Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Chiron, a hybrid asteroid-comet orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune, reveals secrets of the early solar system. Captured by JWST, it challenges conventional celestial classifications.
Centaurs like Chiron act as "time capsules," preserving chemical and physical clues from billions of years ago, providing a rare glimpse into the solar system’s formation.
Chiron stands apart with its persistent coma—a halo of gas and dust—even at its farthest point from the Sun, defying traditional models of comet activity.
Representative pic
For the first time, JWST detected carbon dioxide ice, carbon monoxide ice, and methane gas on Chiron, offering unparalleled insights into the composition of centaurs.
Dr. Pinilla-Alonso highlights Chiron’s duality: observing its surface and coma simultaneously unveils a dynamic interplay of primordial and processed ices.
Credit: Noemi Pinilla-Alonso
Unlike most centaurs, Chiron’s persistent activity points to complex interactions between solar radiation and icy layers, reshaping its surface over time.
Chiron likely originated from the distant trans-Neptunian region, carrying ancient ices and undergoing transformations as it moved closer to the Sun.
Dr. Schambeau notes how solar radiation penetrates Chiron’s layers, releasing gases that alter its composition, bridging gaps between asteroids and comets.
Studying Chiron reveals connections between centaurs and other celestial objects, helping piece together the evolution of the solar system’s building blocks.