Pluto and Sedna's Chemical Differences

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distant Kuiper Belt

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Pluto

Space

•

Science

How the James Webb Space Telescope is helping size up tiny dwarf planets

Summary

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75% Informative

A new study finds a surprising chemical difference between Pluto and Sedna , a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt , is helping scientists nail down their respective masses.

Sedna is smaller than Pluto, so its gravity is weaker, allowing methane to escape into space over billions of years, while ethane, which is a heavier compound, stays behind.

The study suggests that smaller objects lose methane, while larger ones lose methane over time.

The new study was published in February in the journal Icarus .

It highlights how JWST is revolutionizing our understanding of the most distant solar system bodies.

The findings will help scientists understand how atmospheres and surface compositions change in the Kuiper Belt and beyond.

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semi-formal

Language

English

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