The nature and origin of Charon's smooth plains

Beyer, Ross A.; Spencer, John R. (John Robert), 1957-; McKinnon, William B.; Nimmo, Francis; Beddingfield, Chloe; Grundy, W. M.; Ennico, K.; Keane, James Tuttle; Moore, J. (Jeff); Olkin, Cathy B.; Robbins, Stuart; Runyon, Kirby; Schenk, Paul M.; Singer, Kelsi N.; Stern, Alan, 1957-; Weaver, Harold A., 1953-; Young, Leslie A.; New Horizons Team; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4803-5793

The nature and origin of Charon's smooth plains

Beyer, Ross A.; Spencer, John R. (John Robert), 1957-; McKinnon, William B.; Nimmo, Francis; Beddingfield, Chloe; Grundy, W. M.; Ennico, K.; Keane, James Tuttle; Moore, J. (Jeff); Olkin, Cathy B.; Robbins, Stuart; Runyon, Kirby; Schenk, Paul M.; Singer, Kelsi N.; Stern, Alan, 1957-; Weaver, Harold A., 1953-; Young, Leslie A.; New Horizons Team; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4803-5793

URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11753/1429

Date: 2019-05-01

Abstract:

Charon displays extensive plains that cover the equatorial area and south to the terminator on the sub-Pluto hemisphere observed by New Horizons. We hypothesize that these plains are a result of Charon's global extension and early subsurface ocean yielding a large cryoflow that completely resurfaced this area leaving the plains and other features that we observe today. The cryoflow consisted of ammonia-rich material, and could have resurfaced this area either by cryovolcanic effusion similar to lunar maria emplacement or a mechanism similar to magmatic stoping where lithospheric blocks foundered. Geological observations, modeling of possible flow rheology, and an analysis of rille orientations support these hypotheses.

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