Artist's Impression of the Pluto-Charon system. Observing a very rare occultation of a star by Pluto's satellite Charon from three different sites, including Paranal, home of the VLT, astronomers were able to determine with great accuracy the radius and density of the satellite to the farthest planet. The density, 1.71 that of water, is indicative of an icy body with about slightly more than half of rocks. The observations also put strong constraints on the existence of an atmosphere around Charon.
Pluto gilt seit 2006 als Zwergplanet. Die Monde die ihn umkreisen, bieten der Wissenschaft interessante Einblicke in seine Entstehungsgeschichte. Das Hubble-Teleskop hat beeindruckende Bilder des geheimnisvollen Zwergplaneten aufgenommen.
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