Exploring the Kuiper Belt: JWST's Observations of Sedna, Gonggong, and Quaoar

1 min read
Source: Phys.org
Exploring the Kuiper Belt: JWST's Observations of Sedna, Gonggong, and Quaoar
Photo: Phys.org
TL;DR Summary

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has observed three dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt - Sedna, Gonggong, and Quaoar - using its Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec). The observations revealed interesting information about their orbits and composition, including the presence of light hydrocarbons and complex organic molecules believed to be the result of methane irradiation. These findings provide insights into the history and evolution of objects in the outer solar system and highlight the capabilities of the JWST in studying our cosmic neighborhood.

Share this article

Reading Insights

Total Reads

0

Unique Readers

1

Time Saved

7 min

vs 8 min read

Condensed

94%

1,40882 words

Want the full story? Read the original article

Read on Phys.org