New observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed unique details about the celestial object 2060 Chiron, a centaur with characteristics of both an asteroid and a comet. Frozen carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide were found in its icy core. Methane was also detected in the surrounding gas cloud (coma) along with carbon dioxide. These discoveries will help us better understand the nature of centaurs and the conditions that prevailed in the early Solar System.
2060 Chiron, discovered in 1977. The object orbits the Sun in 50 years, moving in the region between Jupiter and Neptune. On 12 July 2023, the James Webb telescope detected the object at a distance of 18 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. The researchers detected carbon dioxide and methane in Chiron’s coma, while carbon monoxide was found only in a frozen state on the surface. This indicates the presence of a complex system of gas emissions from various sources on the discovered centaur. Scientists note that carbon monoxide (CO) is more volatile and prone to sublimation than CO2.
“These results are unique,” said Charles Shambaugh of the University of Central Florida. Observing gases from distant objects like Chiron was nearly impossible before James Webb. The discoveries provide a deeper understanding of Chiron’s composition and behavior.
For the first time, water ice and light hydrocarbons, such as ethane and propane, have also been discovered on Chiron. According to Noemi Pinilla-Alonso of the University of Oviedo, Chiron could have absorbed molecules such as water and carbon dioxide left over from the formation of the Solar System. Observing these molecules will help recreate the conditions of early planet formation. Hydrocarbons were probably formed by the reaction of light with methane and water ice on the surface.
However, more research is needed to analyse the composition of the nucleus and coma in more detail, as well as the changes that occur during Chiron’s orbital motion. As Chiron gets closer to the Sun, more accurate data on the composition of ice, silicates, and organic matter will be available. This will allow us to better understand how seasonal changes in lighting affect the behaviour of the object and its ice reservoir.
Earlier, we reported how the mysterious centaur keeps surprising NASA with its behavior.
Provided by UCF
