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Pluto-Charon Double Planet 3D Explorer vs alternatives
The Pluto-Charon Double Planet 3D Explorer shows Pluto-Charon mutual orbit and an outside-Pluto barycenter in the browser with NASA New Horizons / JPL figures - textbooks and JPL ephemerides win for research-grade orbits; desktop N-body codes win for physics-engine runs.
| Option | Strength | Access | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pluto-Charon 3D (this page) | Phase scrub + mutual lock + outside-barycenter teaching table | Free, in browser | Compressed scale; not a gravity integrator |
| NASA / JPL briefings and ephemerides | Research-grade positions and mission context | Free, research-oriented | No interactive teaching orbit |
| Desktop N-body / orbital mechanics code | Physics-engine runs of mutual orbits | App / install / research cluster | Heavy setup; not a quick explorer |
Key published figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Pluto mean radius | 1188.3 km |
| Charon mean radius | 606 km |
| Pluto / Charon mass | 1.303e22 kg / 1.586e21 kg (~8.2:1) |
| Mutual separation | ~19,591 km |
| Barycenter from Pluto center | ~2,110 km (outside Pluto) |
| Synchronous period | 6.387 days (both tidally locked) |
Start with the step-by-step guide or when to use. Open the Pluto-Charon Double Planet 3D Explorer.
freetoolonline.com editorial team
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