In an intriguing twist, researchers have discovered a novel method for icy celestial bodies to collide and form binary systems in the vast expanse of space.
In the vast expanse of time, Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, have been locked in a mutual dance, constantly facing each other. Their size disparity, with Charon being approximately half the size of Pluto, has led some to dub them as a double dwarf planet system. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience might have uncovered the origin story of this peculiar duo.
According to Adeene Denton, a NASA postdoctoral fellow and the study's lead author, the pair may have formed through an unconventional "kiss and capture" mechanism. This scenario entails a collision where the two bodies temporarily stick together, performing a cosmic dance before separating as two orbitally bound entities. Denton explained, "Most planetary collision scenarios fall under 'hit and run' or 'graze and merge.' What we've discovered is something entirely different—a 'kiss and capture' scenario where the bodies collide, stick together briefly, and then separate while remaining gravitationally bound."
For years, it was speculated that Charon formed similarly to Earth's Moon, through a massive collision. However, Pluto and Charon differ drastically in size and composition. Both are smaller, colder, and primarily composed of rock and ice, which caused the researchers to reconsider their initial assumptions. Denton elaborated, "We accounted for the actual strength of these materials, leading us to discover something unexpected."
The scientists conducted computer simulations of various collision scenarios, and their findings revealed that Pluto and Charon remained largely undamaged during the collision. They became fused together into a single, oddly-shaped object resembling a snowman before separating, with Charon securing a near-circular orbit around Pluto due to its smaller size.
Erik Asphaug, a professor at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and a co-author of the study, was impressed by the findings. "The compelling thing about this study is that the model parameters that work to capture Charon, also put it in the right orbit. You get two things right for the price of one."
This study may also provide answers concerning Pluto's hypothesis of a subsurface liquid ocean. The researchers believe that the collision process generated a significant amount of internal heat, which was transferred to both celestial bodies, potentially causing Pluto to develop an underground ocean. This discovery could shed light on Pluto's geological evolution and how the initial impact and subsequent tidal forces played a critical role in shaping its surface features.
The team plans to conduct further studies to explore how tidal forces impacted Pluto and Charon's early evolution during their brief fusion and how such a process may have led to the creation of other binary systems.
The discovery of this unconventional formation mechanism opens up possibilities for our understanding of future binary planet systems in the cosmos, given the role of space technology and advanced science in unveiling celestial mysteries. Furthermore, the study suggests that the collision might have ignited Pluto's future potential for harboring a subsurface liquid ocean, fueling curiosity about the future geological developments on icy worlds.
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