The discovery of water ice, carbon dioxide, and complex organic molecules on distant objects in our solar system has revolutionized our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made groundbreaking discoveries about trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), including their surface composition. The telescope’s Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument has analyzed the surfaces of over 75 TNOs, revealing three distinct spectral classes. These classifications are based on the shape of spectra in specific regions and indicate different surface compositions, with Bowl-type spectra dominated by water ice, Double-dip spectra showing complex organic molecules, and Cliff spectra featuring carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon materials.
The discovery suggests that higher temperatures closer to the Sun can lead to the formation of different spectral types. Bowls are thought to have formed in areas where temperatures were too high for carbon dioxide and methane to remain stable, while Cliffs and Double-dips formed in colder regions. This finding provides clues about the origins of TNOs and their surface materials.
The JWST continues to carry out a robust program of TNO observations, with new programs selected each year. Upcoming studies aim to circle back to targets observed earlier, providing even more detailed insights into the formation of TNOs in the protosolar nebula. The telescope’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of planetary system formation and the origins of our solar system.
John Stansberry and Bryan Holler, scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), were instrumental in defining the science goals of the DiSCo-TNOs program and interpreting the data to understand the formation distances of individual TNOs.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-webb-just-found-something-unexpected-beyond-neptune