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Why do astronomers sometimes consider Pluto and its moon Charon to a double planet?
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.
What else can I help you with?
Why do astronomers sometimes consider Pluto and its moon charon to be double moons?
Charon is massive enough in proportion to Pluto that the two objects orbit a common center of mass, called a barycenter.
Do astronomers often consider Pluto and Charon a double planet?
No, because Pluto has been reclassified as a dwarf planet. Dwarf planets are not planets, despite the confusing term. Before Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, sometimes the Pluto-Charon system was thought of as a double planet, so you can sometimes find that in outdated but authoritative-seeming references.
Is charon and Pluto sometimes called a double planet?
yes
Why do astronomers think that charon is another planet?
They don't. Charon is generally considered a moon of Pluto, however, since Charon and Pluto orbit a center of mass that is outside of Pluto some have suggested calling the Pluto-Charon system a binary or double planet.
How many double planet systems are in the solar system?
There are no double planet systems in our solar system. The closest to being considered a double planet are Pluto and its largest moon Charon, but since Charon is significantly smaller than Pluto, it is not classified as a double planet system.
Are Pluto and its moon Charon are considered a double planet System?
Some consider it to be a double planet or, more properly, a double dwarf planet. However it is currently not officially considered as such.
Which planet has one moon called Charon?
Pluto is a dwarf planet with a moon called Charon as well as four others named Styx, Kerberos, Hydra, and Nix.
What is the name of Pluto's planet?
Charon. It's more of a satellite than a planet, unless you want to consider Pluto/Charon as a double planet. That's a little awkward, since Pluto has been downgraded to a planetoid.
Why do astromeners sometimes consider Pluto and its moon to be a double planet?
Unlike all other known planet-moon systems, the common center of mass between Pluto and Charon, called the barycenter, lies outside of either object so that the two objects revolve around a common point between them
What are the number of satellite of planet Pluto?
Yes, there is a satellite that orbits around Pluto its name is Charon. Charon is half the size of Pluto, with a diameter of 1200km. Pluto and Charon orbit each other like double planets.
Is Pluto bigger than its moons?
Yes it is. However, its largest moon, Charon, is so large that one can almost think of Pluto and Charon as being a double minor planet system as Charon does not orbit Pluto as much as Pluto and Charon both orbiting a common point near Pluto, because of the effect of both Pluto's gravity on Charon as well as Charon's gravitational pull on Pluto.
Why do some scientists think that Charon isn't a moon of Pluto?
Charon does not truly orbit Pluto. Rather, Charon's gravity moves Pluto enough that both objects orbit around their common center of mass, which is outside of Pluto. This led to suggestions that the Pluto-Charon system be classified as a binary or double planet.
