Is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system also the L1 point?

  • #1
Cerenkov
274
53
Hello.

I've been reading about the Lagrange points... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point ...and also about Pluto and its moons. Having discovered that the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system lies at a point in space between the dwarf planet and its major moon Charon a number of questions have come to mind and I list them here to find out the answers and hopefully more.

1. Does the location of the aforementioned barycentre coincide with the location of the L1 point between Pluto and Charon?

2. According to the Wiki page... Although the L1, L2, and L3 points are nominally unstable, there are quasi-stable periodic orbits called halo orbits around these points in a three-body system. But, does Pluto and its moons qualify as a three-body system?

3. Is it possible for a natural body to remain in the kind of quasi-stable orbit mentioned above?

4. Is it possible for a carefully-placed space probe to remain in a quasi-stable orbit employing the kind of station-keeping used by the JWST?

5. At first glance the masses of Nix, Hydra, Kerberos and Styx would seem to be insufficient to play any significant role in the orbital dynamics of Pluto and Charon. But is that so or am I mistaken in my assumption?

Thank you for any help given.


Cerenkov.
 
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  • #2
The L1 point is not the barycenter. Consider the earth-moon system.

Cerenkov said:
But, does Pluto and its moons qualify as a three-body system?
How many moons does Pluto have? Is it different from two?
Cerenkov said:
station-keeping
With enough rocket fuel. sure.
Cerenkov said:
any significant role
How significant is significant?
 
  • #3
Cerenkov said:
1. Does the location of the aforementioned barycentre coincide with the location of the L1 point between Pluto and Charon?
What is the definition of the barycentre? Given this definition, is it nearer to the heavier mass or the lighter one?
What is the definition of the L1 point? Given this definition, is it nearer to the heavier mass or the lighter one?

Do you think that anything has changed since you last posted this question here?
 
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Likes Vanadium 50 and berkeman
  • #4
This is a duplicate of a previously posted question, already answered. Thread closed.
 
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Likes Vanadium 50

Related to Is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system also the L1 point?

1. Is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system also the L1 point?

No, the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system is not the L1 point. The barycentre is the point around which both objects orbit, while the L1 point is a point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies balance out.

2. What is the significance of the barycentre in the Pluto - Charon system?

The barycentre in the Pluto - Charon system is important because it helps determine the center of mass of the system. This point is used to calculate the orbits of both Pluto and Charon as they orbit around each other.

3. How does the barycentre affect the movement of Pluto and Charon?

The barycentre affects the movement of Pluto and Charon by influencing their orbits. Since both objects orbit around the barycentre, their movements are intertwined and dependent on each other's gravitational pull.

4. Is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system stable?

Yes, the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system is stable. While it may shift slightly due to external forces, the overall center of mass remains relatively constant, allowing for predictable orbits of both Pluto and Charon.

5. How is the barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system calculated?

The barycentre of the Pluto - Charon system is calculated using the masses and distances of both objects from each other. By taking into account these factors, scientists can determine the exact point around which both Pluto and Charon orbit.

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