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Questions about Kerberos (moon)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was the moon Kerberos discovered by researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope?

Researchers spotted the moon Kerberos on the 28th of June 2011 during an attempt to find rings around Pluto. Further observations confirmed its existence on the 3rd and the 18th of July 2011.

What is the physical shape and size of the moon Kerberos according to New Horizons images?

Images from the New Horizons mission revealed that the moon Kerberos has a double-lobed shape with one lobe measuring approximately 8 kilometers across and another spanning roughly 4 kilometers. This unusual form suggests two smaller objects merged together long ago after debris coalesced around Pluto following a massive collision.

How does the rotation of the moon Kerberos differ from other moons in the solar system?

The moon Kerberos exhibits chaotic rotation rather than keeping one face toward Pluto like most large moons do. Its rotational period lasted about 5.33 days at the time of the July 2015 flyby while its axis tilted approximately 96 degrees relative to its orbit.

What are the orbital characteristics and resonance details for the moon Kerberos around Pluto?

The moon Kerberos follows a circular equatorial orbit at a distance of roughly 48,000 kilometers from the center point of the Pluto-Charon barycenter. It completes one full revolution every 32.167 days creating a specific relationship known as a 1:5 orbital resonance with Charon.

When did scientists first release images of the moon Kerberos to the public after the New Horizons flyby?

Scientists released the first image of the moon Kerberos to the public on the 22nd of October three months after the spacecraft captured data during its flyby on the 14th of July 2015. This photograph showed a small body with a bright surface contrary to initial expectations that it might be covered in dark material.

On what date was the name Kerberos officially approved by the International Astronomical Union for the moon P4?

The Greek form Kerberos won approval from the International Astronomical Union on the 2nd of July 2013 after rejecting other proposals like Vulcan and Cerberus. Features on the satellite must now relate to dogs from literature or mythology under this official designation.