Moon of Pluto
Kerberos
Kerberos is a moon. It orbits Pluto. It is about 12 km across – about as wide as Lake Zurich is long. Kerberos looks like two lumps stuck together (around 19 x 10 x 9 km).
Fact file
- Type
- Moon of Pluto
- Diameter
- 12 km
- Distance from Pluto
- 57,783 km
- Orbital period
- 32.2 days
- Temperature
- -229 °C on average
Kerberos orbits Pluto.
Interesting facts about Kerberos
- Kerberos looks like two lumps stuck together (around 19 x 10 x 9 km).
- Discovered in 2011 with the Hubble telescope.
- Named after the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the underworld in Greek myth.
Frequently asked questions about Kerberos
How big is Kerberos?
Kerberos has a diameter of 12 km. That is about 0.3% of the diameter of our Moon.
How far is Kerberos from Pluto?
Kerberos orbits Pluto at an average distance of 57,783 km.
How long does Kerberos take to orbit Pluto?
Kerberos orbits Pluto once every 32.2 days.
How cold or warm is it on Kerberos?
On Kerberos the average temperature is −229 °C.
Formation
Two smaller bodies probably merged gently.
Atmosphere
No atmosphere.
Exploration
New Horizons photographed Kerberos in 2015 from a great distance.
Compared with Earth
Its surface is surprisingly bright – probably clean water ice.
Other moons of Pluto
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