ASTRONOMY FOR KIDS

Until 1978 it was believed that Pluto was much larger.  Through a telescope on Earth Charon and Pluto look like they are the same object.  However in 1978 Jim Christy discovered that what we used to think was one object, were really two. 

Charon and Pluto keep the same face towards each other at all times.  This means that imaginary aliens living on one side of Charon would never see Pluto, and imaginary aliens living on the opposite side of Pluto would never see Charon. 

Charon is named for the god who ferried the dead across the River Acheron into the underworld.