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Water Fact File for Charon |
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The Bottom Line: |
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An icy place... |
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Findings from Dr Kotwicki's 1991 Paper: |
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Charon, a companion of Pluto, has a strong spectral line at 2 m, which is characteristic of water ice. Because of its low gravity, the primary allotment of methane probably escaped into space, exposing its mantle of water ice. |
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Latest Findings about Water on Charon: |
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The diameter of Charon is 1172 km. Its density is about 1.83 g/cm3. This suggests that Charon consists mostly of water ice and little rock. The surface of Charon is also reflective, and its spectrum shows water ice, but no frozen nitrogen like Pluto. |
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Above: Pluto and Charon
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Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments. © 1991-2005 Dr Vincent Kotwicki.
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