Pluto’s largest moon Charon has frozen subsurface ocean
Q. Which Pluto moon has a subsurface ocean frozen long ago and expanding the surface of the natural satellite causing massive fractures?- Published on 22 Feb 16a. Nix
b. Hydra
c. Styx
d. Charon
ANSWER: Charon
Pluto’s largest moon Charon had a subsurface ocean frozen long ago and expanded, pushing the surface of the natural satellite and stretching it, causing massive fractures. Side of Pluto’s moon is viewed by New Horizon and has a system of pull apart tectonic faults expressed as ridges, scarps and valleys reaching more than 6.5 km deep. Outer layer of Charon is water ice whereby the layer was kept warm when Charon was young by heat generated by radioactive elements decay as well as the own internal heat formation of Charon. Scientists have opined that Charon could have enough warmth to cause water ice to melt, creating a subsurface ocean. As Charon cooled over time, ocean will be freezing and expanding lifting the outermost layers of the moon and creating a massive chasm.
