James Webb telescope discovers ‘a new kind of climate’ on Pluto, unlike anything else in our solar system
Astronomers James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a new look at the distant edges of our solar system – and once again found that Pluto was challenging expectations.
When NASA’s new horizons crossed Pluto in 2015, dwarf planet It was an ice ball in sleep, and instead, he showed that he was rich with ice plains and rough mountains. But one of the biggest surprises floating above everything: bluish, multi -layer haze Covering the earth sky, the surface extends more than 185 miles (300 kilometers) – much higher and more complex than scientists predicted.
Now, about ten years later, the new data from JWST controls that Pluto’s stroller is not just a visual oddity, but also the dwarf planet’s climate.
“This is unique in the solar system” Tanguy bertrandAt the Paris Observatory in France, an astronomer who leads to the analysis, told Live Science. “This is a new climate, let’s say.”
The findings explained in a study published in the magazine on June 2 Nature astronomySuggest that similar dynamics can be played in other hazy worlds in our solar system, and even offer clues about the early climate of our own planet.
Lifting
Pluto’s high altitude haze, methane and nitrogen’s sunlight reactions are made of complex organic molecules. The idea that Pluto can control the climate First proposed in 2017. Computer models suggested that these particles absorb sunlight throughout the day and leave back to space as infrared energy at night and cool the atmosphere more efficiently than gases. This can also explain why Pluto’s upper atmosphere is roughly 30 degrees cool than Fahrenheit (-203 Celsius) -33 degrees.
Relating to: Why is Pluto not considered a planet?
However, it was difficult to test this theory for years. A great challenge was Charon of Pluto’s Great Bear, which was so closely orbit that thermal signals often coincided with telescope data. “Basically, we didn’t know what part of the signal was the part of the stroller of Charon and Pluto.” Bertrand said. He said.
The researchers behind the 2017 study predicted that Pluto’s stroller would make the world unusual at mid-infrared wavelengths-an estimation that can be tested only with future instruments. This opportunity came in 2022, when JWST’s powerful infrared instruments were finally able to separate signals of two worlds. Of course, the weak infrared glare of Pluto’s stroller matched with predictions.
“In planetary science, it is not common to verify a hypothesis in just a few years so quickly.” Xi zhangSanta Cruz, who leads the 2017 team, is a planetary scientist at the University of California, expression. “That’s why we feel quite lucky and very excited.”
Bertrand also reveals the possibility of existence of similar haze -oriented climates in other hazy worlds such as Neptune’s Moon Triton or Saturn’s Moon Titan.
Researchers said that even the distant history of the Earth could be similar. Before our oxygen planet transforms the sky, it is possible to cover the Earth in a pace of organic particles – a blanket that can help balance temperatures and encourage early life.
Zhang, “Pluto’nun haze and chemistry by examining, we can get new information about the conditions that make the Early World livable.” He said.
