A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida’s Florida Space Institute used the James Webb Space Telescope to study the unique characteristics of (2060) Chiron, a distant “centaur” that exhibits traits of both a comet and an asteroid. The findings provide valuable insights into the origins of our Solar System.
Chiron is a member of a group of celestial objects known as “Centaurs,” which orbit the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune. The researchers discovered that Chiron’s surface chemistry is distinct from other Centaurs, with the presence of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on its surface, along with carbon dioxide and methane gases in its coma.
The study builds upon previous discoveries by Pinilla-Alonso and colleagues that detected similar ices on trans-Neptunian objects. The new findings are creating foundational knowledge for understanding the creation of our Solar System, as Chiron has traveled through different environments during its 1 million-year orbit around the giant planets.
“We’re going to follow up with Chiron,” said Pinilla-Alonso. “It will come closer to us, and if we can study it at nearer distances, we will be able to better understand how seasonal insolation variations and different illumination patterns can affect its behavior and its ice reservoir.”
The researchers concluded that the coexistence of molecules in various states adds another layer of intrigue for studying comets and centaurs. The study also highlighted the presence of irradiated byproducts of methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, which will require further research.
Chiron originated from the TNO region and has traveled around our Solar System since its creation. Its unique characteristics make it an “oddball” among Centaurs, with periods where it behaves like a comet and potential debris fields orbiting around it. The analysis of Chiron’s gases and ices opens new frontiers and opportunities for exciting research.
Reference: “Unveiling the ice and gas nature of active centaur (2060) Chiron using the James Webb Space Telescope” by N. Pinilla-Alonso, J. Licandro, R. Brunetto, E. Henault, C. Schambeau, A. Guilbert-Lepoutre, J. Stansberry, I. Wong, J. I. Lunine, B. J. Holler, J. Emery, S. Protopapa, J. Cook, H. B. Hammel, G. L. Villanueva, S. N. Milam, D. Cruikshank and A. C. de Souza-Feliciano, 18 December 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics.
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202450124
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/asteroid-cometor-something-else-mysterious-activity-on-oddball-space-object-raises-new-questions