A new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience has revealed a groundbreaking mechanism that explains the formation of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon. The research, led by NASA postdoctoral fellow Adeene Denton, challenges decades of scientific assumptions about how planetary bodies form and evolve.
According to the study, two icy worlds collided billions of years ago in the outer reaches of our solar system. Instead of destroying each other, they spun together like a celestial snowman and finally separated while remaining gravitationally bound. This unexpected “kiss and capture” mechanism is the key to understanding how Pluto and Charon originated.
The researchers found that when applying traditional models for planetary collision, scientists overlooked the structural strength of cold, icy worlds. However, by considering this factor, they discovered a new type of cosmic collision where the colliding bodies become temporarily stuck together, rotating as a single object before separating into the binary system we observe today.
The study’s findings also suggest that both Pluto and Charon remained largely intact during their collision, with much of their original composition preserved. This challenges previous models that suggested extensive deformation and mixing during the impact.
The research team is now planning follow-up studies to explore several key areas, including how tidal forces influenced Pluto and Charon’s early evolution, analyzing how this formation scenario aligns with Pluto’s current geological features, and examining whether similar processes could explain the formation of other binary systems.
This new mechanism provides a fresh perspective on planetary formation and evolution, and its implications are significant for our understanding of the solar system.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-newly-capture-mechanism-formation-pluto.html