Nix (moon)
Moon of Pluto / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the moon of Pluto. It is not to be confused with the asteroid 3908 Nyx.
Nix is a natural satellite of Pluto, with a diameter of 49.8 km (30.9 mi) across its longest dimension.[3] It was discovered along with Pluto's outermost moon Hydra on 15 May 2005 by astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope,[1] and was named after Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night.[10] Nix is the third moon of Pluto by distance, orbiting between the moons Styx and Kerberos.[11]
Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
Discovery[1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Hal A. Weaver et al.[lower-alpha 1] |
Discovery date | 15 May 2005 |
Designations | |
Designation | Pluto II[1] |
Pronunciation | /ˈnɪks/ |
Named after | Nyx |
S/2005 P 2 | |
Adjectives | Nictian (/ˈnɪktiən/) |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
48694±3 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.002036±0.000050 |
24.85463±0.00003 d | |
Inclination | 0.133°±0.008° (122.53°±0.008° to Pluto's orbit) |
Satellite of | Pluto |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 49.8 × 33.2 × 31.1 km[3] (Geometric mean of 37 km) |
Mass | (2.60±0.52)×1016 kg[4]: 10 |
Mean density | 1.031±0.204 g/cm3[4]: 10 |
≈ 0.0028 m/s2 at longest axis to ≈ 0.0072 m/s2 at poles | |
≈ 0.0118 km/s at longest axis to ≈ 0.0149 km/s at poles | |
1.829±0.009 d[5]: 3 chaotic[6] (decreased by 10% between discovery and flyby)[7] | |
123°±10° (to Pluto–Charon orbit)[8]: 11 48°±10° (to celestial equator)[lower-alpha 2] | |
North pole right ascension | 350°±10°[5]: 3 |
North pole declination | 42°±10°[5]: 3 |
Albedo | 0.56±0.05[5]: 3 |
23.38–23.7 (measured)[9] | |
8.28[5]: 2 | |
Close
Nix was imaged along with Pluto and its other moons by the New Horizons spacecraft as it flew by the Pluto system in July 2015.[12] Images from the New Horizons spacecraft reveal a large reddish area on Nix that is likely an impact crater.[13]