Evidence of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide was found on the surface of Charon

The James Webb Space Telescope, with its unparalleled accuracy and sensitivity, has managed to discover signs of new chemical compounds on the surface of Charon, Pluto’s largest moon. This finding, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, shows that Charon’s surface is far more complex than previously thought.

According to Tekna Technology Media Astronomy News Service, previous studies, including data collected by the New Horizons spacecraft in 2015, indicated the presence of water ice on the surface of Charon. But by using the advanced capabilities of the James Webb telescope in detecting infrared spectra, scientists managed to identify two other important chemical compounds, namely carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Carly Haut, one of the scientists of the New Horizons project, expressed surprise at this discovery, stating that the James Webb telescope has made it possible to see very fine details of the surface of celestial bodies that were not possible before. Pluto and its moons, including Charon, lie in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond the orbit of Neptune. The great distance of these objects from the sun and their very low temperature have provided conditions that allow the existence of various chemical compounds on their surface.

Scientists believe that the hydrogen peroxide on Charon’s surface may have been formed by the interaction of cosmic rays with water molecules. Also, carbon dioxide may have been created as a result of the impact of celestial bodies on the surface of Charon and the release of gases inside it. This new discovery is an important step towards a better understanding of the processes of formation and evolution of celestial bodies in the solar system. By studying more closely the data collected by the James Webb Telescope, scientists hope to answer fundamental questions about the origin and composition of the icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt.
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