A recent study has revealed new details about the atmosphere of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon.
A recent study by scientists at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado revealed new details, Pluto’s largest moon. Published in the magazine Nature Communicationsthe research, led by Silvia Protopapa, used data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze the chemical composition and processes affecting Charon’s surface.
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The most important discovery concerns the presence of two key compounds: carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These elements, never before observed in such detail, could provide new clues to understanding the origin and evolution of the icy bodies of the outer Solar System.
Charon, Pluto’s largest moon
Charon, , has been the subject of numerous research over the years. The data available to date, however, was limited to wavelengths less than 2.5 micrometers. This new study, however, took advantage of the Near-Infrared spectrograph of the James Webb Space Telescope to observe the moon at wavelengths between 1.0 and 5.2 micrometers, opening up new perspectives on its surface composition.
The scientists’ hypothesis
The researchers conducted four separate observations, all confirming the presence of CO2 and H2O2. The scientists’ hypothesis is that the hydrogen peroxide is the result of the processing of water ice on Charon’s surface, caused by radiation and sunlight. As for , it could derive from underground reservoirs present in the celestial body that orbits Pluto.
What we can expect in the future
These results offer a deeper insight into the dynamics and chemical processes that shape the surface of celestial bodies. The authors of the study hope that these findings can represent a starting point for future analyzes and insights into the interactions between solar radiation and the surface compositions of these distant icy moons.
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