Unraveling Charon's Secrets: Insights from the James Webb Telescope

Recent observations by the James Webb Space Telescope have unveiled intriguing chemical compositions on Charon, Pluto's largest moon. Notably, frozen carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide have been detected, alongside water ice and ammonia.

Charon, a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, formed from a significant collision with another celestial body, which also gave rise to Pluto's smaller moons. The hydrogen peroxide on Charon likely arises from the interaction of ultraviolet and cosmic radiation with surface materials.

While previous missions, such as the New Horizons spacecraft, identified Charon's icy exterior, Webb's advanced infrared technology has revealed more about its complex surface chemistry. Though situated billions of miles from the Sun, Charon's features provide vital clues about its formation and the processes at play in this remote part of the solar system.

These findings contribute to our understanding of both Charon and its parent body, Pluto, as they navigate the vastness of the Kuiper Belt.