Finite Element Model of Kubrick Mons, Charon

Abstract

With the recent mission, involving NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft to Pluto, many high definition photos have been making their way back to Earth. Such photos include the vast landscapes of not only Pluto, but also its moon Charon. One of Charon’s unique features, Kubrick Mons, is a large mountain sitting in a moat. This new finding has brought about questions concerning the formation of this geological feature. We present the results of a Finite Element Model and a Material Point Method, for the formation of the moat feature of Kubrick Mons using NairnFEAMPM software provided by John A. Nairn of Oregon State University. The size and extent of the moat constrain material properties for the shallow subsurface of Charon.