Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing that an asteroid named 2060 Chiron has hybrid characteristics of both comets and asteroids. This rare object orbits the sun every 50 years between Jupiter and Neptune, defying typical categorization.
Researchers from the University of Central Florida studied Chiron’s unique composition, which includes a solidified icy exterior and gases emanating from its interior coma. The findings are “like nothing we’ve seen before,” according to researcher Charles Schambeau.
Chiron’s unusual characteristics have sparked interest in understanding how similar space rocks can coexist within our solar system. The high-powered Webb telescope has enabled the team to analyze gas-based objects far from the sun, providing new insights into Chiron’s interior composition and behavior.
The research suggests that much of Chiron’s gas, including carbon dioxide and methane, is primordial and dates back millions of years before our sun formed. This discovery sheds light on the early universe and the evolution of small bodies in our solar system.
As Chiron approaches Earth and the sun, the team plans to study it at closer distances to better understand its behavior and quantify its ices. The findings offer a unique window into the past, allowing scientists to learn more about the formation and evolution of our solar system.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/01/06/science/asteroid-comet-hybrid-stuns-scientists-like-nothing-weve-seen-before