How Pluto captured a moon almost its own size
Pluto's largest moon, Charon, likely formed through a capture event in the early, crowded Kuiper Belt. Three-body encounters and tidal forces allowed Charon to lose energy and become permanently bound, leading to the system's unique binary-like configuration and high angular momentum. This process offers insights into the formation of distant worlds.
Pluto's largest moon, Charon, likely formed through a capture event in the early, crowded Kuiper Belt. Three-body encounters and tidal forces allowed Charon to lose energy and become permanently bound, leading to the system's unique binary-like configuration and high angular momentum. This process offers insights into the formation of distant worlds.
