James W. Christy
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James W. Christy is an American astronomer known for his discovery of Charon, the largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto. He discovered Charon in 1978 while working at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Christy and his colleague Robert S. Harrington identified Charon from photographic images of Pluto.12
Charon is significant because its size and mass are substantial relative to Pluto, leading some scientists to consider them a double system. Charon's discovery provided new insights into Pluto's mass and orbit. The moon was named after the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology.21
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Charon…on June 22, 1978, by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington at the U.S. Naval Observatory station in Flagstaff, Arizona. Its diameter—1,212 km (753 miles)—is a little more than half of Pluto’s, and its mass is more than one-tenth of Pluto’s. Charon is so large and massive with respect…
Read More…on June 22, 1978, by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington at the U.S. Naval Observatory station in Flagstaff, Arizona. Its diameter—1,212 km (753 miles)—is a little more than half of Pluto’s, and its mass is more than one-tenth of Pluto’s. Charon is so large and massive with respect…
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PlutoDiscoveries of Pluto and its moons…images were being recorded by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington in an attempt to obtain more-accurate measurements of Pluto’s orbit. The new satellite was named after the boatman in Greek mythology who ferries dead souls to Hades’ realm in the underworld.
Read More…images were being recorded by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington in an attempt to obtain more-accurate measurements of Pluto’s orbit. The new satellite was named after the boatman in Greek mythology who ferries dead souls to Hades’ realm in the underworld.
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