Is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system also the L1 point?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Cerenkov
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Lagrange points
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system and its relationship to the L1 point. Participants explore concepts related to Lagrange points, orbital dynamics, and the implications of additional moons in the system. The scope includes theoretical considerations and questions about orbital stability.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system coincides with the L1 point.
  • Another participant asserts that the L1 point is not the barycentre, referencing the Earth-Moon system as a comparison.
  • There is a query about whether Pluto and its moons qualify as a three-body system.
  • A participant raises the issue of the number of moons Pluto has and whether this affects the classification of the system.
  • Discussion includes the possibility of a natural body remaining in a quasi-stable orbit around L1 points.
  • Concerns are raised about the significance of Pluto's smaller moons (Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx) in the orbital dynamics of the system.
  • Questions are posed regarding the feasibility of a space probe maintaining a quasi-stable orbit with station-keeping techniques.
  • Definitions of barycentre and L1 point are discussed, particularly in relation to their proximity to heavier or lighter masses.
  • One participant notes that the question may have been previously addressed, suggesting a potential duplication of inquiry.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between the barycentre and the L1 point, with no consensus reached on whether Pluto and its moons constitute a three-body system. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of additional moons on orbital dynamics.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for clarity on definitions and the significance of mass in determining the barycentre and L1 point locations. There are unresolved questions about the stability of orbits in the context of the Pluto - Charon system.

Cerenkov
Messages
360
Reaction score
96
Hello.

I've been reading about the Lagrange points... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point ...and also about Pluto and its moons. Having discovered that the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system lies at a point in space between the dwarf planet and its major moon Charon a number of questions have come to mind and I list them here to find out the answers and hopefully more.

1. Does the location of the aforementioned barycentre coincide with the location of the L1 point between Pluto and Charon?

2. According to the Wiki page... Although the L1, L2, and L3 points are nominally unstable, there are quasi-stable periodic orbits called halo orbits around these points in a three-body system. But, does Pluto and its moons qualify as a three-body system?

3. Is it possible for a natural body to remain in the kind of quasi-stable orbit mentioned above?

4. Is it possible for a carefully-placed space probe to remain in a quasi-stable orbit employing the kind of station-keeping used by the JWST?

5. At first glance the masses of Nix, Hydra, Kerberos and Styx would seem to be insufficient to play any significant role in the orbital dynamics of Pluto and Charon. But is that so or am I mistaken in my assumption?

Thank you for any help given.


Cerenkov.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
The L1 point is not the barycenter. Consider the earth-moon system.

Cerenkov said:
But, does Pluto and its moons qualify as a three-body system?
How many moons does Pluto have? Is it different from two?
Cerenkov said:
station-keeping
With enough rocket fuel. sure.
Cerenkov said:
any significant role
How significant is significant?
 
Cerenkov said:
1. Does the location of the aforementioned barycentre coincide with the location of the L1 point between Pluto and Charon?
What is the definition of the barycentre? Given this definition, is it nearer to the heavier mass or the lighter one?
What is the definition of the L1 point? Given this definition, is it nearer to the heavier mass or the lighter one?

Do you think that anything has changed since you last posted this question here?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Vanadium 50 and berkeman
This is a duplicate of a previously posted question, already answered. Thread closed.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Vanadium 50

Similar threads

High School Questions about Lagrange points in the Pluto / Charon system
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad How Big of an Object Orbiting Closer to the Sun Than Earth Could Be Overlooked?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
High School Largest Moon With A Concave Orbit
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Simulation of New Horizons arrival day at Pluto
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Is it possible to build a Telescope the Size of Half the Solar System size using all Lagrange Points?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Outer Solar System Origins Survey, Dwarf Planets and TNOs
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Feasibility of a L1 Gravity Swing Cold Launch?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Is my fictional Solar System stable and realistic?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
Graduate Lagrange Points, Maximum mass and their effects
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
7K
High School Unraveling the Mystery of Pluto: 75 Years Since Its Discovery and Counting
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K