Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers were able to detect carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the icy surface of Charon , Pluto 's largest moon .
Charon was discovered in 1978 and has been studied extensively since then, although previous technology has not helped us much in understanding the composition of the moon's surface. So far, scientists have detected water ice, elements that carry ammonia, and some organic compounds. However, now they have discovered carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, thanks to the James Webb.
A research team from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) made the discovery, utilizing the JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument
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Charon is a medium-sized celestial body located in the Kuiper Belt, which consists of icy debris, comets, and dwarf planets and is located at the edge of our solar system.
Unlike many of the larger objects in the Kuiper Belt, Charon's surface is not covered in volatile ices, giving scientists valuable insights into the effects of sunlight and cratering on Charon and other similar bodies. In addition, Charon is the only medium-sized body in that region for which geological mapping is available. This is due to data collected by New Horizons , which visited the Pluto system about a decade ago.
Discoveries on Charon, Pluto's moon
Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope and previous evidence, researchers were able to detect carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon's icy surface.
"Charon's surface, as revealed by the New Horizons mission, features numerous craters surrounded by bright ejecta blankets that are rich in ice and ammonia-bearing compounds," says an expert. "These geological features suggest that subsurface materials have been brought up by impacts, providing a window into the composition of the moon."
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Researchers believe that the upper layer of carbon dioxide comes from the interior and appears on the surface through impacts and craters.
Additionally, carbon dioxide is known to exist in regions of the protoplanetary disk from which the Pluto system formed. The fact that it was not discovered by NASA's New Horizons in 2015 has puzzled scientists.
What most impressed the research team was the detection of hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Charon. Hydrogen peroxide is present on the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. But the environments on the two moons are very different.
The presence of hydrogen peroxide on Charon indicates that the water ice on the surface is actively altered by sunlight ,energetic particles from the solar wind, and streams of charged particles from beyond the solar system called "galactic cosmic rays."
James Webb will continue to study Charon, Pluto's largest moon, and scientists will use the data to better understand icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt.
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James Webb's observations of Charon and other icy bodies will continue to deepen our understanding of the processes that drive planetary evolution in extreme environments. With its advanced technology and capabilities, this telescope promises to reveal even more exciting things about these distant worlds in the years to come.
As we continue to explore and study the outer reaches of our solar system, we realize how much we still have to learn about the vast universe around us. The James Webb Space Telescope serves as a powerful tool for expanding our knowledge and unlocking new mysteries.
Source: www.space.com
