A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector
We analyze a new set of ∼275 n -body calculations designed to place limits on the masses of the small circumbinary satellites in the Pluto–Charon system. Together with calculations reported in previous papers, we repeat that a robust upper limit on the total mass of the four satellites is ≈9.5...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb9e6 |
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| author | Scott J. Kenyon Benjamin C. Bromley |
| author_facet | Scott J. Kenyon Benjamin C. Bromley |
| author_sort | Scott J. Kenyon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We analyze a new set of ∼275 n -body calculations designed to place limits on the masses of the small circumbinary satellites in the Pluto–Charon system. Together with calculations reported in previous papers, we repeat that a robust upper limit on the total mass of the four satellites is ≈9.5 × 10 ^19 g. For satellite volumes derived from New Horizons, this mass limit implies a robust upper limit on the bulk densities of Nix and Hydra, ≲1.7 g cm ^−3 , that is comparable to the bulk density of Charon. Additional calculations demonstrate that satellite systems with masses ≲8.25 × 10 ^19 g are robustly stable over the current age of the Sun. The bulk densities of Nix and Hydra in these lower-mass systems are clearly smaller than the bulk density of Charon. These new n -body results enable accurate measurements of eccentricity and inclination for Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra that agree well with orbital elements derived from numerical calculations with new Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons state vectors. With these new state vectors, Styx has a 37% larger eccentricity and an 85% smaller inclination, which makes it more prone to gravitational perturbations from Nix. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4c8484168694b0e9d5ba8cc49df7cc9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4c8484168694b0e9d5ba8cc49df7cc92025-08-20T03:42:47ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382025-01-01636810.3847/PSJ/adb9e6A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State VectorScott J. Kenyon0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0214-609XBenjamin C. Bromley1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7558-343XSmithsonian Astrophysical Observatory , 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA ; skenyon@cfa.harvard.eduDepartment of Physics & Astronomy, University of Utah , 201 JFB, Salt Lake City, DC 20006, USAWe analyze a new set of ∼275 n -body calculations designed to place limits on the masses of the small circumbinary satellites in the Pluto–Charon system. Together with calculations reported in previous papers, we repeat that a robust upper limit on the total mass of the four satellites is ≈9.5 × 10 ^19 g. For satellite volumes derived from New Horizons, this mass limit implies a robust upper limit on the bulk densities of Nix and Hydra, ≲1.7 g cm ^−3 , that is comparable to the bulk density of Charon. Additional calculations demonstrate that satellite systems with masses ≲8.25 × 10 ^19 g are robustly stable over the current age of the Sun. The bulk densities of Nix and Hydra in these lower-mass systems are clearly smaller than the bulk density of Charon. These new n -body results enable accurate measurements of eccentricity and inclination for Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra that agree well with orbital elements derived from numerical calculations with new Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons state vectors. With these new state vectors, Styx has a 37% larger eccentricity and an 85% smaller inclination, which makes it more prone to gravitational perturbations from Nix.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb9e6PlutoPlutonian satellitesDynamical evolutionNatural satellite formation |
| spellingShingle | Scott J. Kenyon Benjamin C. Bromley A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector The Planetary Science Journal Pluto Plutonian satellites Dynamical evolution Natural satellite formation |
| title | A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector |
| title_full | A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector |
| title_fullStr | A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector |
| title_short | A Pluto–Charon Sonata. V. Long-term Stability of the HST State Vector |
| title_sort | pluto charon sonata v long term stability of the hst state vector |
| topic | Pluto Plutonian satellites Dynamical evolution Natural satellite formation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/adb9e6 |
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