James Webb Space Telescope detects methane and other gases on interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
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Summary
The James Webb Space Telescope has obtained its first chemical fingerprint of an interstellar object, Comet 3I/ATLAS, using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The observations revealed water vapor spreading far beyond the comet's nucleus, released from icy grains in the surrounding coma, while carbon dioxide and methane were found more concentrated near the nucleus. The image shows the comet in three different light wavelengths, illustrating the distribution of different gases at the time of observation.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has collected its first chemical fingerprint of an interstellar object during a recent revisit to Comet 3I/ATLAS.
Water vapour spreads far beyond the nucleus because much of it is released from icy grains in the surrounding coma, while carbon dioxide and methane are more concentrated near the comet's nucleus.
This image from the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) shows the interstellar comet in three different light wavelengths and illustrates where different gases were located at the time the comet was viewed.
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