Nix (moon)

E557657

Nix is a small outer moon of Pluto, discovered in 2005, that orbits the dwarf planet in a chaotic, tumbling rotation.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Nix 0

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf irregularly shaped moon
moon of Pluto
natural satellite
outer moon of Pluto
belongsTo Kuiper belt system of Pluto NERFINISHED
discoveredBy Hubble Space Telescope NERFINISHED
Pluto Companion Search Team NERFINISHED
discoveredIn 2005
hasAlternativeSpelling Nyx (mythological namesake)
hasApproximateShape elongated body
hasCatalogDesignation S/2005 P 2 NERFINISHED
hasDiscoveryMethod space-based optical imaging
hasDynamicalClass regular satellite of Pluto
hasDynamicalState chaotic rotation due to torques from Pluto and Charon
hasEnvironment Kuiper belt NERFINISHED
hasExplorationMission New Horizons NERFINISHED
hasMeanDistanceFrom Pluto (outer region of system)
hasObservationWavelength near-infrared
visible light
hasOrbitalConfiguration near-resonant with other small moons of Pluto
hasOrbitalMotion chaotic
hasOrbitalPlane roughly aligned with Pluto’s equatorial plane
hasParentBody Pluto-Charon barycenter NERFINISHED
hasRotation non-synchronous rotation
tumbling
hasShape irregular
hasSurfaceColor relatively bright
hasSurfaceComposition water ice (inferred)
hasSurfaceFeature large crater
hasUnstableSpinAxis true
isGravitationallyBoundTo Charon NERFINISHED
Pluto NERFINISHED
isNonSpherical true
isOuterMoonOf Pluto NERFINISHED
isPartOf Pluto-Charon multiple moon system NERFINISHED
isSmallerBodyInSystemWith Charon NERFINISHED
Pluto NERFINISHED
isSmallerThan Charon NERFINISHED
Hydra NERFINISHED
Kerberos NERFINISHED
Styx NERFINISHED
memberOf Pluto system NERFINISHED
namedAfter Greek goddess of the night
Nyx NERFINISHED
orbits Pluto NERFINISHED
dwarf planet Pluto NERFINISHED
wasImagedBy New Horizons spacecraft NERFINISHED

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Hydra hasOrbitalResonanceWith Nix (moon)
subject surface form: Hydra (moon)
Hydra outerMoonRelativeTo Nix (moon)
subject surface form: Hydra (moon)