A Look at Pluto's possible Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of how a comet interacts with the environment of interplanetary space.
Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)
Image from: NASA

No one knows whether or not Pluto has a magnetosphere. Scientists were very surprised to find that Jupiter's icy moon Ganymede had a magnetosphere because it is hard to explain how an icy body can develop a magnetic field. Nevertheless, Pluto may well have a magnetic field, being warmed by tidal forces stemming from its dual orbit with its moon Charon.

On the other hand, Pluto may have a magnetic interaction with the interplanetary magnetic field similar to that of a comet, as illustrated in this diagram. Only exploration of this unique system will give us the answer.


A Look at Pluto's possible Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of how a comet interacts with the environment of interplanetary space.
Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)
Image from: NASA

No one knows whether or not Pluto has a magnetosphere. Scientists were very surprised to find that Jupiter's icy moon Ganymede had a magnetosphere because it is hard to explain how an icy body can develop a magnetic field. Nevertheless, Pluto may well have a magnetic field, as a result of its dual orbit with its moon Charon.

On the other hand, Pluto may have a reaction with the field found between planets that is similar to that of a comet, as illustrated in this diagram. Only exploration of this unique system will give us the answer.


A Look at Pluto's possible Magnetosphere



This is a drawing of how a comet interacts with the environment of interplanetary space.
Click on image for full size version (40K GIF)
Image from: NASA

No one knows whether or not Pluto has a magnetosphere. Scientists were very surprised to find that Jupiter's icy moon Ganymede had a magnetosphere because it is hard to explain how an icy body can develop a magnetic field. Nevertheless, Pluto may well have a magnetic field, being warmed by tidal forces stemming from its dual orbit with its moon Charon.

On the other hand, Pluto may have a magnetic interaction with the interplanetary magnetic field similar to that of a comet, as illustrated in this diagram. Only exploration of this unique system will give us the answer.



Last modified November 12, 1997 by the Windows Team

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