Charon
Charon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.
How big is it?
1,212 km · mean diameter
Mean diameter · approximate
A little perspective
Charon vs Ceres: diameter comparison
The mean diameter of Charon is about 1.29 times the diameter of Ceres.
Charon is a natural satellite of Pluto, composed mainly of rock and water ice.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Charon
Mean diameter: 1,212 km; approximate.
Rounded mean-radius model of Charon. The derived area and volume describe a sphere; surface terrain and flattening are omitted.
NASA JPL — Planetary satellite physical parameters
The marked mean diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Ceres
Diameter: 939.4 km; rounded reference.
Rounded mean-radius model of Ceres. The derived area and volume describe a sphere; surface terrain and flattening are omitted.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 1,212 km
We compare the mean diameter of Charon. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty.
Rounded mean-radius model of Charon. The derived area and volume describe a sphere; surface terrain and flattening are omitted.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,212 km | Not recorded | approximate | |
| 4,615,000 km² | Not recorded | derived | |
| 932,200,000 km³ | Not recorded | derived | |
| 1.59 × 10¹⁸ t | Not recorded | derived | |
| 0.2889 m/s² | Not recorded | derived |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceDione1,123 kmMean-equivalent diameterDione is an icy moon of Saturn, distinguished by its heavily cratered surface and bright ice cliffs.
Around the same scalePlanets, moons and spaceTethys1,062 kmMean diameterTethys is a mid-sized icy moon of Saturn, notable for its large impact basin and surface fractures.
Nearest higher valuePlaces and natural featuresRhine1,230 kmApproximate main-channel lengthThe Rhine is a river in western Europe that flows from the Swiss Alps through several countries to the North Sea.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA JPL — Planetary satellite physical parametersPublished mean radii and gravitational parameters GM. Spherical areas, volumes, masses and local gravity are explicitly derived.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
SpaceMoon3,475 kmThe Moon is Earth’s natural satellite and the brightest large object in Earth’s night sky.
SpaceEarth12,740 kmEarth is the rocky planet on which we live and the third planet from the Sun.
SpacePluto2,377 kmPluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, composed of rock and ice and orbiting the Sun.
SpaceJupiter139,800 kmJupiter is a giant planet composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, orbiting the Sun beyond the asteroid belt.
SpaceCeres939.4 kmCeres is a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.TransportFive-hour drive at 100 km/h500 kmA five-hour drive at a set speed is the distance a vehicle covers in five hours of continuous travel without breaks.
SpaceTriton2,705 kmTriton is a natural satellite of Neptune, with a retrograde orbit and a surface of frozen nitrogen.
SpaceEnceladus504.2 kmEnceladus is a natural satellite of Saturn, with an icy surface and plumes of water vapour erupting from its south pole.