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Dynamical and observational constraints on satellites in the inner Pluto-Charon systemIt is not known if Pluto has other satellites besides its massive partner Charon. In the past, searches for additional satellites in the Pluto-Charon system have extended from the solar-tidal stability boundary (approximately 90 arcsec from Pluto) inward to about 1 arcsec from Pluto. Here we further explore the inner (i.e., less than 10 arcsec) region of the Pluto-Charon system to determine where additional satellites might lie. In particular, we report on (1) dynamical simulations to delineate the region where unstable orbits lie around Charon, (2) dynamical simulations which use the low orbital eccentricity of Charon to constrain the mass of any third body near Pluto, and (3) analysis of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival images to search for satellites in the inner Pluto-Charon system. Although no objects were found, significant new constraints on bodies orbiting in the inner Pluto-Charon system were obtained.
Document ID
19950030756
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Stern, S. Alan
(Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX United States)
Parker, Joel William
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Duncan, Martin J.
(Queens University Kingston, Ontario, Canada)
Snowdall, J. Clark, Jr.
(Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX United States)
Levison, Harold F.
(Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: ICARUS
Volume: 108
Issue: 2 pt
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
95A62355
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-26555
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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