Facts for Kids
Kerberos is a small natural satellite of Pluto, about 19 km in its longest dimension.
Overview
Orbit And Rotation
Discovery Of Kerberos
Physical Characteristics
Future Studies And Hypotheses
Composition And Surface Features
Significance In The Pluto System
Exploration And Research Missions
Cultural And Mythological References
Comparison To Other Dwarf Planet Satellites
Inside this Article
Hubble Space Telescope
Greek Mythology
Ancient Greece
New Horizons
Temperature
Information
Charon
Planet
Pluto
Space
Did you know?
🌌 Kerberos is a tiny moon that orbits the dwarf planet Pluto!
🔭 It was discovered in 2011 using the Hubble Space Telescope.
🦮 The name 'Kerberos' comes from a three-headed dog in Greek mythology.
📏 Kerberos is about 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) long.
🌑 It takes Kerberos around 5.5 days to complete one orbit around Pluto.
❄️ Kerberos is mostly made of ice and rock, similar to other moons of Pluto.
🥶 The temperature on Kerberos can be around -220 degrees Celsius (-364 degrees Fahrenheit)!
🌙 Kerberos has a dark surface and possibly craters like our own moon.
🚀 The New Horizons mission helped gather important information about Kerberos.
📚 Studying Kerberos helps scientists understand the how moons are formed in space!
Introduction
It was discovered in 2011 and named after the three-headed dog from Greek mythology. This little moon is about 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) long, making it smaller than some cities! 🌍
Kerberos is part of a family of moons that also includes Charon, Styx, and Nix. Together, they help scientists learn more about Pluto and how moons are formed in space!
Orbit And Rotation
It takes about 5.5 days to complete one trip around Pluto. That’s longer than the time it takes for Pluto to spin once! Pluto takes around 6.4 Earth days to complete a full rotation. This means that a day on Pluto is a little longer than a week for us here on Earth! 🌎
While Kerberos orbits Pluto, it stays very close to the planet and never moves far away.
Discovery Of Kerberos
The scientists who discovered it wanted to learn more about Pluto's moons. The name "Kerberos" was chosen because it links to the mythological dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld. The name was also suggested by fans during a naming contest! 🐶
This cool find helped scientists understand that Pluto has more than one moon, and Kerberos adds to Pluto’s fascinating family!
Physical Characteristics
Its longest dimension is about 19 kilometers (11.8 miles). Scientists think that it has a dark surface because of a special type of ice that reflects very little light. The surface might have craters, just like our moon! 🌑
Craters are holes made by space rocks crashing into it. Even though Kerberos is small, it is part of a big story—how moons change over time!
Future Studies And Hypotheses
After New Horizons, researchers want to use more powerful telescopes to zoom in on Kerberos and get new data. They hope to learn how its surface changes over time and if it might have even more secrets to reveal! 🎉
Understanding Kerberos can also help explain the formation and evolution of other moons in our solar system!
Composition And Surface Features
️ Its surface is thought to be covered with frozen nitrogen and methane. These icy materials makes it very cold! The temperature on Kerberos can be around -220 degrees Celsius (-364 degrees Fahrenheit)! 🥶
Because its surface is dark, scientists believe it might have dust or debris that sticks to it, making Kerberos a unique moon in its icy family!
Significance In The Pluto System
By studying its orbit and characteristics, scientists can learn more about how moons are created and what conditions are like far from the sun. 🌓
Also, comparing Kerberos with Pluto’s other moons like Charon helps scientists understand the history of the entire system. Each moon tells a part of a story, and Kerberos is a key player in that tale!
Exploration And Research Missions
Launched in 2006, New Horizons flew by Pluto in July 2015, giving us amazing pictures and data. 📸
Although the spacecraft didn’t land on Kerberos, it collected vital information during its flyby, helping scientists learn about the temperatures and features of Pluto’s moons, including what could be going on with Kerberos!
Cultural And Mythological References
🦺 In ancient Greece, Kerberos was a three-headed dog that guarded the Underworld, stopping souls from escaping! This makes the name very special. By naming the moon after a mythological creature, scientists celebrate how stories connect with science. 🌌
Many cultures have stories about the stars and planets, and Kerberos connects our curiosity about space with ancient legends that people have told for generations!
Comparison To Other Dwarf Planet Satellites
For example, Charon is much larger than Kerberos, as it measures about 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) in diameter! Unlike other small moons, Kerberos is unique because of its shape and hunting size. ⚪
️ It helps create a variety of sizes for celestial bodies around Pluto, making it more interesting to study!
Kerberos Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
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