Pluto’s largest moon Charon home to canyon system

Q.  Which Pluto Moon is home to an unusual canyon system deeper than Earth’s Grand Canyon?
- Published on 27 Jun 16

a. Io
b. Charon
c. Ganymede
d. Cassini

ANSWER: Charon
 
Pluto’s largest moon Charon is home to an unusual canyon system far deeper and longer than the Grand Canyon on earth according to a new image taken over by NASA New Horizon Probe.
  • The deep canyon is named Argo Chasma
  • It is around 700 km long while Arizona’s Grand Canyon is 450 km long
  • Scientists estimate Argo Chasma to be 9 km deep more than 5 times the depth of earth’s Grand Canyon
  • There are locations along the canyon’s length where sheer cliffs reach many miles high and the Verona Rupes on Miranda, a Uranus moon.
  • The latter moon is known for the title of the tallest known cliff face in the solar system
  • Image was taken by New Horizon LORRI or Long Range Reconnaissance Imager at 2.33 km per pixel.
  • This has take a range of 466,000 km from Charon which is 5 hours 22 minutes after the New Horizons closest approach to Charon on July 14 in the previous year
  • Charon which is Pluto’s largest moon once had a sub surface ocean long since frozen
  • The moon is characterised by pull apart tectonic faults which result in valleys, scarps and ridges

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