Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists have observed jets of primordial gas from the centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, providing crucial insights into the formation and composition of these celestial objects. This study, published in the journal Nature, sheds light on the transition of centaurs into comets and their role in understanding the early solar system.
Centaurs, which were once located in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune, have been nudged inward by gravitational interactions, leading some to become short-period comets. With over 500 centaurs identified, astronomers estimate there could be up to 10 million more.
Lead researcher Sara Faggi from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center noted, "Centaurs can be considered as some of the leftovers of our planetary system's formation," highlighting their importance in preserving early solar system materials.
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is known for its outbursts every six to eight weeks. Previous observations indicated a jet of carbon monoxide (CO), but JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) revealed an additional CO jet and two new jets of carbon dioxide (CO2). The cause of these jets remains unclear, as water vapor was not detected, which is expected given 29P's distance from the sun.
Researchers propose that 29P may be a contact binary, consisting of multiple objects that have fused together. This challenges existing theories about the formation of primordial bodies in the Kuiper Belt. The findings suggest that different parts of 29P are composed of varying materials, indicating a complex history of formation.
As these celestial bodies remain largely unchanged for billions of years, studying their outgassing can provide invaluable information about the conditions present during the solar system's infancy. Future observations with JWST will aim to monitor the jets for changes, potentially revealing more about the dynamics of 29P.