The James Webb telescope, a technological feat, detected carbon dioxide on the surface of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon. Given the distance that separates this system from Earth, many puzzles still remain to be solved, including this one.
NASA’s New Horizons probe has greatly added to our knowledge of Pluto and its various moons. Among its discoveries, striking images of Charon’s surface were captured, revealing impressive geological formations previously unknown. New Horizons also made it possible to learn more about the composition of Charon. The surface is covered with water ice, as well as ammonia. Scientists also suspect the presence of cryovolcanoes, active volcanoes composed of ice, suggesting a still mysterious geological process.
Unraveling the mysteries of the creation of the solar system
Thanks to the capabilities of the James Webb telescope, which allow it to observe the universe in infrared, the latter was able to carry out an in-depth study of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by Charon, in order to determine its chemical composition. Thus, for the very first time, the presence of carbon dioxide, a gas intimately linked to life on Earth, was detected emanating from the depths of Charon.
This discovery strengthens our understanding of the solar system and its formation. As pointed out Science and Futurethis means that the protoplanetary disk of dust and gas that surrounded the Sun when Earth was created 4.5 billion years ago probably already contained carbon dioxide.
