New research indicates that Pluto's largest moon, Charon, could have been formed through a unique 'kiss-and-capture' process involving two icy bodies colliding in the Kuiper Belt.
Team leader Adeene Denton stated, 'It can indeed capture Charon from a giant impact,' explaining that Pluto and Charon merged before separating to form two distinct entities.
Denton emphasized, 'Most planetary collision scenarios are classified as hit and run or graze and merge, making the 'kiss and capture' theory rather unique in cosmic collision perspectives.'
This ground-breaking capture theory offers a fresh avenue for scientists to study the structural strength of icy worlds within the Kuiper Belt.
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