James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Detects Water Vapor on Rare Comet, Posing New Mysteries
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made another major discovery, this time detecting water vapor around a rare comet located in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. This is the first time that gas has been detected around a comet in the main asteroid belt, and it could significantly boost theories that water, a vital ingredient for life, was delivered to our planet from space by comets.
The comet in question is called 238P/Read, and it is a main-belt comet, which means that it orbits the Sun between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars. Main-belt comets are relatively rare, and they are thought to be remnants of the early solar system.
The JWST detected water vapor around 238P/Read using its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument. NIRSpec is designed to study the light from distant objects in the infrared spectrum, and it is well-suited for detecting faint emissions from water vapor.
The detection of water vapor around 238P/Read is a significant finding, as it provides further evidence that water ice was present in the early solar system. It also suggests that comets may have played a role in delivering water to Earth.
However, the study of 238P/Read has also delivered a mystery: Carbon dioxide, which astronomers expected to see, is missing from the comet. Carbon dioxide is a common constituent of comets, and it is thought to make up as much as 10% of the volatile matter in comets that is easily boiled off by the sun.
The team is now working to understand why 238P/Read is missing carbon dioxide. They hope that the JWST can provide more clues, and they are also planning to study the comet with other telescopes.
The discovery of water vapor around 238P/Read is a significant step forward in our understanding of the origins of water on Earth and the role of comets in our solar system. It is sure to lead to further research and discoveries in the years to come.
