When the less massive object is far away the barycenter can be located outside the more massive object. One interesting aspect of the pluto system is the fact that the mass ratio of charon to pluto is large enough that the barycenter of their orbit is outside the bodies of both charon and pluto. Because neither object truly orbits the other and charon has 12 2 the mass of pluto it has been argued that charon should be considered to be part of a binary system with pluto. While charon has almost zero orbital eccentricityin regard to the barycenter is seriously inclined to pluto s orbit 119 6 and to the ecliptic 112 8. Charon is 12 the mass of pluto and they re both tidally locked.
Charon completes the orbit around the common gravitational center barycenter in 6 39 earth days. Gravitational center barycenter of the system is slightly shifted out from center of pluto because of charon s big gravitational influence. The center of mass barycenter of the pluto charon system lies outside either body. Hence pluto does orbit that center like other moons. Together with the tidal locking there is another fact about pluto charon system to mention.
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This is the case for pluto and charon one of pluto s natural satellites as well as for many binary asteroids and binary stars. The relationship between pluto and charon is abstract. When the less massive object is far away the barycenter can be located outside the more massive object.
