The impactor flux in the Pluto-Charon system

by: Weissman, P. R.; Stern, S. A.

ABSTRACT

Current impact rates of comets on Pluto and Charon are estimated. It is
shown that the dominant sources of impactors are comets from the Kuiper
belt and the inner Oort cloud, each of whose perihelion distribution
extends across Pluto's orbit. In contrast, long-period comets from the
outer Oort cloud are a negligible source of impactors. The total predicted
number of craters is not sufficient to saturate the surface areas of either
Pluto of Charon over the age of the Solar System. However, heavy cratering
may have occurred early in the Solar System's history during clearing of
planetesimals from the outer planets' zone.

Icarus vol. 111, no. 2 p. 378-386 October 1994