New Discovery: "Kiss and Capture" Collision Scientists have uncovered a unique “kiss and capture” collision scenario to explain how Pluto and its large moon Charon came together.
Pluto and Charon's Unique Composition Unlike the Earth’s moon, which formed from molten debris after a massive impact, Pluto and Charon are made up mostly of rock and ice.
Impact on Planetary Formation Theories The new discovery provides fresh insights into how planets and moons form in the outer reaches of the solar system.
Possible Subsurface Ocean on Pluto The collision could have triggered the formation of a subsurface ocean beneath Pluto’s icy crust.
Age and Timing of the Collision Researchers believe the collision happened around 4 billion years ago, early in the solar system's history.
Tidal Heating and Pluto's Ocean After the impact, Pluto and Charon likely experienced tidal heating, a process that occurs when gravitational forces between two bodies heat their interiors.
Implications for Other Kuiper Belt Objects This collision scenario could explain how other Kuiper Belt objects, which are icy bodies in the outer solar system, may have gained large moons.