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Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected carbon dioxide on the frozen surface of Pluto’s biggest moon, Charon, for the first time
The discovery, along with hydrogen peroxide, is hoped to shed light on how icy worlds formed and evolved
Charon
It is the largest of Pluto's five moons, about half the size of Pluto.
It was discovered telescopically on June 22, 1978
The moon name is from Greek mythology (the Greek counterpart of the Roman god Pluto)
Since, Charon is so large and massive with respect to Pluto– the two are sometimes referred to as a double dwarf planet system.
The same surfaces of Charon and Pluto always face each other, a phenomenon called mutual tidal locking.
In addition, Charon always shows the same hemisphere to Pluto, because (like many other moons) its rotation period is identical to its orbital period.
Charon orbits Pluto every 6.4 Earth days.
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