Moon
Charon
- Type
- Moon
- Diameter
- 1,207 km
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute · NASA media (public domain)
Overview
Scientific overview
Charon is a moon orbiting Pluto.
Physical characteristics
- Mass
- 0.002 ×10²⁴ kg
- Diameter
- 1,207 km
- Radius
- 603.6 km
- Density
- 1.664 g/cm³
- Surface gravity
- 0.28 m/s² · derived
- Escape velocity
- 0.6 km/s · derived
- Albedo
- 0.372
- Magnitude
- 17.26
Derived values
Computed from source-backed inputs via standard formulae — not observations. Every input and constant is traced below.
- Escape velocity0.6 km/sderived
Formula & inputs
Formula: v = √(2GM / r) (v1.0.0, impl v1.0.0)
Inputs:
- mass1e24Kg = 0.00153 ×10²⁴ kg · NASA
- radiusKm = 603.6 km · NASA
Assumptions: G = 6.674e-11 m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² (CODATA 2018)
Limitations: Assumes a spherical, non-rotating body.; Inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty, so none is propagated.
Uncertainty: not propagated (inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty)
Computed as of 2026-06-29.
- Surface gravity0.28 m/s²derived
Formula & inputs
Formula: g = GM / r² (v1.0.0, impl v1.0.0)
Inputs:
- mass1e24Kg = 0.00153 ×10²⁴ kg · NASA
- radiusKm = 603.6 km · NASA
Assumptions: G = 6.674e-11 m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² (CODATA 2018)
Limitations: Assumes a spherical, non-rotating body.; Inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty, so none is propagated.
Uncertainty: not propagated (inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty)
Computed as of 2026-06-29.
Scale
Compared to Earth
Charon is 11× smaller than Earth
1,207 km across · Earth is 12,742 km
Gallery
Global Map of Pluto Moon Charon
The science team of NASA's New Horizons mission has produced this global map of Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
2015
NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute · NASA media (public domain)
Observation
How this was captured
- Source
- NASA
- Observation date
- 2015-07-29
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.