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Masses and densities of Pluto and CharonWe have analyzed HST Wide Field Camera CCD images of Pluto, Charon, and a background star to observe Pluto's barycentric motion and to determine the individual masses and bulk densities of Pluto and Charon. The most fundamental new result was an accurate solution for a previously undetermined parameter, the Charon/Pluto mass ratio q; the new solution is q = 0.0837 +/- 0.0147. Significant accuracy improvements by almost a factor of two were obtained for Charon's orbital semimajor axis, a = 19,405 +/- 86 km and the Pluto system mass of 1.401 +/- 0.019 x 10 exp 8 inverse solar masses. The Pluto and Charon masses were (13.10 +/- 0.24) x 10 exp 24 g and (1.10 +/- 0.18) x 10 exp 24 g, respectively. Computed densities depend strongly on the assumed radius values. The density of Pluto is 2.13 +/- 0.04 g/cu cm and that of Charon is 1.30 +/- 0.23 g/cu cm.
Document ID
19930056212
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Null, G. W.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Owen, W. M., Jr.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Synnott, S. P.
(JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Astronomical Journal
Volume: 105
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0004-6256
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
93A40209
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-26555
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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