We Finally Found Out Why Charon Is Broken
Nov 20, 2025
Everything you need to know about Pluto’s shadow, Charon.
If you love learning about science as much as I do, head to http://brilliant.org/astrum to start for free. You'll also receive 20% off a premium annual subscription, giving you unlimited access to everything on Brilliant.
▀▀▀▀▀▀
Join us as we journey to the solar system's frozen edge to explore Pluto’s mysterious companion, Charon. Forming half of the solar system’s most intriguing binary, Charon’s dark surface bears the scars of a violent past, and a bizarre red stain on its pole. Join us to explore everything we know about Charon, the moon that helped to redefine what it means to be a planet.
▀▀▀▀▀▀
0:00 Pluto’s Shadow
1:21 Accidental Discovery
5:18 The Pluto-Charon System
8:42 The Kiss and Capture Theory
13:49 Charon’s Surface
16:33 Cryovolcanoes on Charon
18:50 Mordor Macula: Charon’s Red Spot
21:54 What Charon Has Taught Us
▀▀▀▀▀▀
To stay on top of space news, sign up to the Astrum newsletter: https://astrumspace.kit.com
Astrum Displate Posters: https://displate.com/astrumspace?art=...
Astrum Merch: https://astrum-shop.fourthwall.com/
Join us on the Astrum discord: / discord
A huge thanks to our Patreons who help make these videos possible. Sign-up here to support the channel: https://bit.ly/4aiJZNF
▀▀▀▀▀▀
Astrum Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jPRrbq...
Astrum Earth: / @astrumearth
Astrum Extra: / @astrumextra
Astrum Spanish: / @astrumespanol
Astrum Portuguese: / @astrumbrasil
▀▀▀▀▀▀
References:
“Charon: Pluto’s Largest Moon”, via nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/charonoverview
“The Accidental Discovery of Charon”, via nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/charondiscovery
“The Dynamics of Pluto’s Satellites”, via iop.org https://astrumspace.info/plutosatellites
“The Pluto-Charon System (NASA Lithograph)”, via nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/plutocharon
“The ‘Kiss-and-Capture’ Origin of Pluto’s Moon Charon”, via nature.com https://astrumspace.info/kisscapture
“Cracks in Charon Could Indicate an Extinct Underground Ocean”, via nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/charoncracks
“Charon’s Surface Geology”, via usra.edu https://astrumspace.info/charongeology
“Differentiation and Cryovolcanism in the Pluto–Charon System”, via usra.edu https://astrumspace.info/charoncryovolc
“The Origin of Mordor Macula on Charon”, via ui.adsabs.harvard.edu https://astrumspace.info/mordormacula
“Source of Volatiles on Charon”, via nature.com https://astrumspace.info/charonvolatiles
▀▀▀▀▀▀
Credits:
Writers: Jess Jordan, Alex McColgan
Video Editor: Nick Shishkin
Researcher: Shourya Shrivastava
Script Editor: Damaris McColgan
Thumbnail Designer: Peter Sheppard
Publishing Lead: Georgina Brenner
Production Manager: Raquel Taylor
Edit Producer: Poppy Pinnock
Head of Astrum: Jess Jordan
Creator of Astrum: Alex McColgan
With special thanks to:
NASA/ESO/ESA
#Astrum #Space #Charon
Alex McCoan explores the history of Pluto's largest moon, discovered by accident in 1978. Learn how this satellite forced a re-evaluation of the solar system's structure and revealed a dramatic geological past marked by massive canyons and cryovolcanism.
Summary
Chapters
View all
Transcript
Follow along using the transcript.
Show transcript
Astrum
2.82M subscribers
Videos
About