Using the Webb Space Telescope, scientists studied the features of Sedna, Gungun and Quaoar.
The Kuiper Belt, a vast region at the edge of the solar system, is home to countless icy objects of varying shapes and sizes. Considering that the Kuiper belt begins beyond the orbit of Neptune, these objects are called trans-Neptunian. It is here that three dwarf planets called Sedna, Gungun and Quaoar are located, and using the Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have conducted a new, thorough study of these objects. The results were published on the arXiv preprint server, writes Universe Today.
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One of the missions of the Webb Space Telescope is to study the Koper belt and the objects that are in it. An international team of scientists in a new study paid special attention to three dwarf planets – Sedna, Gungun and Quaoar. All three objects have almost the same size, which is 1000 km.
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These trans-Neptunian objects are of particular interest to astronomers because of their size, orbits and composition. Other similar objects in the Kuiper belt, such as Pluto, Eris and Makemake, retain volatile ices such as nitrogen and methane on their surfaces. Therefore, scientists wanted to find out whether these volatile substances were on the surface of the three dwarf planets.
Dwarf planet Sedna. Illustration
Photo: Universe Today
Although all three objects are almost the same size, their orbits are different. Sedna has an elliptical orbit and is closest to the Sun at a distance of 76 astronomical units (1 AU is the distance from the Sun to the Earth and it is equal to 150 million km), and farthest from the Sun – at a distance of 1000 AU . Gungun has the same elongated orbit, although it is closest to the Sun at a distance of 33 AU, and farthest at a distance of 100 AU. At the same time, Quaoar has an almost circular orbit and revolves around the Sun at a distance of 43 AU.
Comparison of the sizes of the Earth, Moon and Gungun
Photo: Wikipedia
Thus, all three dwarf planets have different temperatures and different levels of solar radiation received. It is worth saying that Sedna generally moves from the Kuiper belt during its movement and goes beyond the boundaries of the heliosphere, that is, the region filled with solar particles.
Observations of these objects on the outskirts of the solar system allowed us to make several important discoveries. Light hydrocarbons and complex organic molecules were discovered in the composition of these dwarf planets.
Quaoar with rings and moon Vevot (left). Illustration
Photo: Wikipedia
Scientists found large amounts of ethane on all three bodies, especially on Sedna, where acetylene and ethylene were also found. According to astronomers, if ethane and other substances were on the surface for a long time, they would turn into even more complex molecules when irradiated. This result is consistent with previous studies, which indicated that the three sites have different geothermal histories.
These results have important implications for the study of taran-Neptunian objects in the Kuiper Belt. Now scientists have more information about the formation of such objects beyond the frost line in the solar system, when volatile compounds freeze. The current results will also help to better understand the processing of ice on the surface of bodies in the outer Solar System by solar radiation.
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