A couple of notes about this GIF.
Pluto and Charon orbit their mutual center of gravity, which lies between Pluto and Charon. In this processed video, Pluto's location is kept stationary. If the view were stabilized with respect to the fixed stars, Pluto and Charon would both appear to be moving. (Pluto, perhaps more like swaying or wobbling.)
Second, Pluto and Charon are the only two objects in the solar system known to be mutually tidally locked, which means they keep the same face towards each other as they orbit. (The moon is tidally locked to the earth, but the earth is not tidally locked to the moon.) So the period of rotation of Pluto is exactly equal to the orbital period of Charon. And vice-versa. Think about it.
Third. The GIF begins and ends with Charon at the 3:00 O'clock position. The discontinuity (my speculation) is probably due to the change is prospective caused by the motion of the camera towards the pair during the 6.4 days that one complete orbit takes. The spacecraft closed about 1/20 of distance between itself and Pluto during this period.
Fourth: It takes light (and radio waves) about nine hours to travel from New Horizons to earth.
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
2 posted on
06/14/2015 6:09:30 AM PDT by
cripplecreek
(You vote for your TPP supporter and I'll vote for mine.)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
So the period of rotation of Pluto is exactly equal to the orbital period of Charon. And vice-versa. Think about it.
Both in the sky of each other at the same place all the time.
3 posted on
06/14/2015 6:10:56 AM PDT by
cripplecreek
(You vote for your TPP supporter and I'll vote for mine.)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
4 posted on
06/14/2015 6:12:40 AM PDT by
Skooz
(Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
looks like Pluto is asymmetrical . i wonder if that has anything to do with the Chaorn orbit. it looks like the bulge is in line with Charon. 6.4 day rotation sounds really fast, Charon must be really moving. I wonder how that much rotational spin gets imparted?
what do you think the distance is between them?
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
Never understood why they removed Pluto from Planetary status.
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
10 posted on
06/14/2015 6:29:52 AM PDT by
cripplecreek
(You vote for your TPP supporter and I'll vote for mine.)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
Looking forward to seeing close up pictures of Pluto. I want to rent some place for my summer retreat.
16 posted on
06/14/2015 6:59:11 AM PDT by
ducttape45
(Whoever is offended can just get the heck out of my country!)
To: SunkenCiv
17 posted on
06/14/2015 7:02:56 AM PDT by
umgud
(When under attack, victims want 2 things; God & a gun)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
An awfully long way to go for a fly-by. I would have hoped for orbit.
19 posted on
06/14/2015 7:50:56 AM PDT by
onedoug
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
22 posted on
06/14/2015 8:47:07 AM PDT by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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