Pluto and Charon's Formation Explained by 'Kiss and Capture' Collision

New research reveals that Pluto's largest moon, Charon, formed through a unique collision that preserved both bodies' structures, challenging previous theories.

A University of Arizona study proposes that Pluto and Charon formed through a 'kiss and capture' collision, where the two icy bodies briefly stuck together before separating into a stable orbit.
This mechanism differs from the widely accepted 'giant impact' theory, which suggests moons form from massive collisions that deform and mix the colliding bodies.
Simulations accounted for the structural strength of icy, rocky bodies like Pluto and Charon, showing they remained intact and preserved their original compositions after the collision.
The study suggests that heat from the impact and tidal forces during Charon's orbital migration may have influenced Pluto's geological evolution, potentially explaining the presence of a subsurface ocean.
Researchers believe this process could apply to other binary systems in the Kuiper Belt, offering insights into the formation of planetary bodies in the outer solar system.