Which planet is sometimes called a double planet?

Answer 1

Charon (1,206 km diameter) is more than half the size of Pluto (diameter 2,274 km). When two objects orbit, like a planet and its moon, they orbit around the shared center of mass, called the barycenter. In most cases, the planet is so much heavier than its moon that the shared center is actually inside the planet, so it's correct to say the moon is orbiting around the planet.

In the case of Pluto and Charon, the barycenter is in between the two bodies. This is the reason for calling it a double planet, because neither one really goes around the other, they circle that common center.

Answer 2

Pluto is one of our galaxy's dwarf planets. It was classified as a planet along with the remaining eight until several years ago, but now isn't. The reason for this is that the group that is accepted as "in charge" of such matters decided that to be a planet, a body must not have a lot of debris and smaller bodies in its orbit. Dwarf planets do not have enough gravity (due to their small size) to attract all the junk and bodies in their orbit. Regular planets, like Saturn and Jupiter, pull the small bodies toward them, and then the objects orbit around them.

If Pluto was still considered a planet then yes, Pluto would be classified as a "double planet" due to it being similar in size to its moon Charon.

Answer 3

Due to the similarity in size of the two celestial objects. Take Jupiter and its moons (natural satellites) as an example, Jupiter is much, Much bigger then its approx 60 moons, subsequently those moons barely cause any effect on their parent body. Some astronomers also Concider the Earth-Moon system as a double planet aswell, as The moon and the earth are also similar in size, Comparitively of course.

Answer 4

Pluto has a moon called Charon, which although smaller than Pluto, is comparatively very large. So much so that the centre of mass for the two bodies is outside the surface of Pluto. Normally when a moon orbits a planet, it shifts the planet about by its gravitation effect, but the wobble of the planet doesnt make it deviate by as much. Charon moves Pluto about by so much that some astronomers see it more of a double planet with two objects in orbit about each other.

Answer 5

Becausse they just circle in a common center the dont go around the other.

Answer 6

The Earth and Moon are considered a double planet.

Pluto and Charon are defined as a double dwarf planet.

Answer 7

yes cause of its moon charon