IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

3 Pages V  < 1 2 3 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
Pluto's 4th moon
jekbradbury
post Jul 20 2011, 10:59 PM
Post #16


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 104
Joined: 1-June 08
Member No.: 4172



I see two possibilities. Perhaps Pluto will continue to be the only object in the solar system with a number of discovered natural satellites between two and 13, a fact which might point to a particularly interesting orbital history that could be related to the presence of Charon. Alternatively, it will be joined in this distinction by some significant fraction of other TNOs as soon as a similar degree of attention is paid to them. Either way, there will be some explaining to do - and I don't know which of "Pluto is unique" and "the Kuiper belt is full of 3,4,5+-body-systems" would be easier to explain.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ElkGroveDan
post Jul 20 2011, 11:37 PM
Post #17


Senior Member
****

Group: Admin
Posts: 4763
Joined: 15-March 05
From: Glendale, AZ
Member No.: 197



QUOTE (jekbradbury @ Jul 20 2011, 03:59 PM) *
the only object in the solar system with a number of discovered natural satellites between two and 13

...and the only object in the solar system with a natural satellite discovered in an image taken on a Tuesday.


--------------------
If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
djellison
post Jul 20 2011, 11:44 PM
Post #18


Founder
****

Group: Chairman
Posts: 14431
Joined: 8-February 04
Member No.: 1



QUOTE (jekbradbury @ Jul 20 2011, 03:59 PM) *
I see two possibilities. Perhaps Pluto will continue to be the only object in the solar system with a number of discovered natural satellites between two and 13, a fact which might point to a particularly interesting orbital history that could be related to the presence of Charon.


No. There's at least one asteroid with three moons - a quadruple system.

http://www.oca.eu/workshop/Pise/slides/Pisa-Colas.pdf
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
nprev
post Jul 21 2011, 12:18 AM
Post #19


Merciless Robot
****

Group: Admin
Posts: 8783
Joined: 8-December 05
From: Los Angeles
Member No.: 602



The NH encounter just keeps getting more & more exciting. Never wanted four years to pass so fast before in my life! biggrin.gif


--------------------
A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Drkskywxlt
post Jul 21 2011, 12:20 PM
Post #20


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 293
Joined: 29-August 06
From: Columbia, MD
Member No.: 1083



What's the general consensus (or is there any?) on whether these objects (Nix, Hydra and P4) are all moons that formed following a large impact on either Charon or Pluto? Or could all 5 objects be ones that formed alone and then Pluto/Pluto-Charon's gravity captured them?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
tfisher
post Jul 21 2011, 01:48 PM
Post #21


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 204
Joined: 29-June 05
Member No.: 421



QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Jul 21 2011, 07:20 AM) *
What's the general consensus (or is there any?) on whether these objects (Nix, Hydra and P4) are all moons that formed following a large impact on either Charon or Pluto?

This is answered in the article linked in the first post of this thread:
QUOTE
The dwarf planet’ s entire moon system is believed to have
formed by a collision between Pluto and another planet-
sized body early in the history of the solar system. The
smashup flung material that coalesced into the family of
satellites observed around Pluto.

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Drkskywxlt
post Jul 21 2011, 04:24 PM
Post #22


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 293
Joined: 29-August 06
From: Columbia, MD
Member No.: 1083



QUOTE (tfisher @ Jul 21 2011, 08:48 AM) *
This is answered in the article linked in the first post of this thread:


Cool, thanks.

That's a bit disappointing though from the standpoint of examining as many formationally-unique KBOs as possible.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
IM4
post Jul 23 2011, 08:21 AM
Post #23


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 57
Joined: 21-September 06
Member No.: 1172



Pluto's P4 moon is now available at SSD Horizons (body ID: 904)
NH closest approach to P4 will take place 2015-Jul-14 12:03 CT at distance of 67000 km.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Explorer1
post Jul 23 2011, 05:27 PM
Post #24


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2073
Joined: 13-February 10
From: Ontario
Member No.: 5221



So that means P4 will appear just a little smaller than the simulation on page 1; still way better then a point of light!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ugordan
post Jul 23 2011, 05:34 PM
Post #25


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3648
Joined: 1-October 05
From: Croatia
Member No.: 523



It would appear just a little smaller if NH were to image it exactly at closest approach. That's not likely to be the case given other observation timings and priorities.


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
elakdawalla
post Jul 24 2011, 02:36 AM
Post #26


Administrator
****

Group: Admin
Posts: 5172
Joined: 4-August 05
From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth
Member No.: 454



Also, the orbit used to make that calculation may not yet be accurate enough to determine precisely where it'll be four years from now...


--------------------
My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
tasp
post Jul 24 2011, 04:41 AM
Post #27


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 903
Joined: 30-January 05
Member No.: 162



LOL, when the accurate orbit becomes available, I bet the savy simulation wranglers here find a stunning Kodak moment or two.

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
IM4
post Jul 24 2011, 08:45 AM
Post #28


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 57
Joined: 21-September 06
Member No.: 1172



QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Jul 24 2011, 02:36 AM) *
Also, the orbit used to make that calculation may not yet be accurate enough to determine precisely where it'll be four years from now...


All Pluto's moons are orbiting at strongly resonant orbits. Nix, P4 and Hydra periods are multiples of the Charon-Pluto orbital period (as 1:4:5:6 to be precise) and therefore actual orbital position can not drift too much from predicted one. Actual flyby viewing geometry will be quite close to the mentioned above.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
CAP-Team
post Jul 25 2011, 09:34 PM
Post #29


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 146
Joined: 23-August 06
From: Vriezenveen, Netherlands
Member No.: 1067



Am I right that the orbit of Pluto's fourth moon is much more elliptical and much more inclined?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Alan Stern
post Aug 16 2011, 09:15 PM
Post #30


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 529
Joined: 19-February 05
Member No.: 173





More on P4 (and NH too) in this radio interview aired today: http://howonearthradio.org/archives/1092
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

3 Pages V  < 1 2 3 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th March 2024 - 05:06 AM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.