Pluto’s Moons
Pluto, a dwarf planet, has 5 known moons:
- Charon:
- Diameter: 1,208 km (749 miles)
- Orbit:
- Average Distance from Pluto: 19,640 km (12,200 miles)
- Orbital Period: 6.4 days
- Composition: Icy and rocky.
- Surface Features: Large canyon systems and a dark polar cap.
- Nix and Hydra:
- Nix Diameter: 44 km (27 miles)
- Hydra Diameter: 61 km (38 miles)
- Orbit:
- Average Distance from Pluto: Nix (48,700 km / 30,300 miles), Hydra (64,700 km / 40,300 miles)
- Orbital Period: Nix (24.9 days), Hydra (25.4 days)
- Composition: Likely composed of ice and rock.
- Styx:
- Diameter: Approximately 16 km (10 miles)
- Orbit:
- Average Distance from Pluto: 42,700 km (26,500 miles)
- Orbital Period: 20.2 days
- Composition: Likely composed of ice and rock.
- Kerberos:
- Diameter: Approximately 13 km (8 miles)
- Orbit:
- Average Distance from Pluto: 58,200 km (36,200 miles)
- Orbital Period: 32.1 days
- Composition: Likely composed of ice and rock.