NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT CHARON, PLUTO’S LARGEST MOON BY NASA’S WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
NASA’s Webb Space Telescope has recently revealed exciting new insights into the surface composition of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon. This discovery sheds light on the mysterious world that orbits at the edge of our solar system.
For the first time, traces of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide have been identified on Charon’s surface, a significant finding considering the moon’s proximity to Pluto and its unique geological features.
Previous studies, including data from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015, had already confirmed the presence of water ice on Charon. However, it wasn’t until the Webb telescope’s observations that scientists were able to detect these specific chemicals using infrared wavelengths.
According to Carly Howett, a New Horizons scientist, “There’s a lot of fingerprints of chemicals that we otherwise wouldn’t get to see.” The research, detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, provides valuable insights into the composition of Charon and its formation.
Charon and Pluto, located in the Kuiper Belt, are too far from the sun to support life. Besides water ice, ammonia and organic materials have also been detected on Charon, making it a fascinating subject for further exploration and study.
Scientists theorize that the hydrogen peroxide found on Charon’s surface could be a result of radiation interacting with water molecules, while carbon dioxide may be emitted following impacts. These findings open up new avenues for understanding the formation of distant moons and planets.
This groundbreaking discovery not only enhances our knowledge of Charon but also provides valuable insights into the geology and chemistry of other celestial bodies in the outer reaches of our solar system.
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