New 'Kiss and Capture' Theory Explains Pluto's Unusual Moon Formation

Researchers propose that Pluto and Charon collided billions of years ago, briefly merging before separating into their current binary system.

The 'kiss and capture' theory suggests Pluto and Charon collided, stuck together temporarily, and then separated while remaining gravitationally bound.
This new model challenges earlier theories that assumed a more destructive, fluid-like collision similar to Earth's moon formation.
Advanced simulations accounted for Pluto and Charon's rocky and icy compositions, revealing their structural integrity preserved them during the impact.
The collision likely generated heat, potentially facilitating the formation of a subsurface ocean beneath Pluto's icy crust.
The findings could have broader implications for understanding moon formation in other Kuiper Belt objects and distant celestial systems.