Tidal evolution and the Pluto-Charon system

Details Tidal evolution and the Pluto-Charon system Tidal evolution and the Pluto-Charon system

Jun 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979m%26p....20..415f&link_type=abstract

Moon and the Planets, vol. 20, June 1979, p. 415-421.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

14

Natural Satellites, Planetary Evolution, Pluto (Planet), Synchronism, Tides, Astronomical Models, Gravitational Effects, Neptune (Planet)

Scientific paper

The system formed by Pluto and its satellite Charon from the point of view of the theory of tidal evolution is analysed. The singular feature of the system, i.e. the configuration of complete synchronism which has been suggested by the available data, is found to represent the stable end-product of the evolution. The time needed for the synchronization is shown to be less than the age of the solar system, provided that Pluto's tidal dissipation function is smaller than 10,000-100,000. Moreover, the initial orbital radius of the system could not be larger than two or three times the present radius, so that Charon has been always a close satellite. Finally, Lyttelton's hypothesis that Pluto is an escaped satellite of Neptune, suggesting that a possible mechanism of Pluto's ejection could be connected with a retrograde capture of Triton by Neptune or with the subsequent tidal evolution of Triton's orbit, is discussed.

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