logo
welcome
Live Science

Live Science

James Webb Space Telescope deciphers the origins of Pluto's icy moon Charon

Live Science
Summary
Nutrition label

76% Informative

Scientists have found carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Pluto 's largest moon, Charon .

The molecules could tell scientists how Charon and other icy bodies at the solar system's edge were born.

Charon is a midsized body roughly 750 miles ( 1,207 kilometers ) wide and located in the Kuiper Belt .

The JWST will continue to study Charon .

Scientists will use the resulting data to better understand icy TNOs as a whole.

The team's research was published on Tuesday ( Oct. 1 ) in the journal Nature Communications .

"Future observations targeting the spectral gaps, not covered in the current data, could lead to new Charon discoveries," scientists said.