Asteroid hybrid Chiron has yielded unprecedented insights into the early solar system, challenging conventional classifications of celestial objects. Captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Chiron’s composition and behavior are shedding new light on the formation of the solar system.
Chiron’s persistent coma – a halo of gas and dust – is defying traditional models of comet activity. For the first time, JWST has detected carbon dioxide ice, carbon monoxide ice, and methane gas on Chiron, providing valuable information about centaurs.
Researchers have long been fascinated by Centaurs like Chiron, which act as “time capsules” preserving clues from billions of years ago. By studying Chiron’s surface and coma simultaneously, scientists are unveiling a dynamic interplay between primordial and processed ices.
Chiron’s origin is believed to be from the distant trans-Neptunian region, carrying ancient ices that have undergone transformations as it moved closer to the Sun. Solar radiation penetrates its layers, releasing gases that alter its composition, bridging gaps between asteroids and comets.
The study of Chiron offers a unique opportunity to piece together the evolution of the solar system’s building blocks, revealing connections between Centaurs and other celestial objects.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/time-capsule-found-james-webb-telescope-unlocks-early-solar-systems-frozen-clues-197380-26-12-2024