NASA's James Webb Telescope Finds Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Peroxide on Pluto's Moon Charon

New discoveries on Charon's surface provide insights into the moon's formation and the processes shaping icy bodies in the outer Solar System.

Scientists detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon using the James Webb Space Telescope.
The findings help fill gaps in our understanding of Charon's surface composition, previously limited to water ice, ammonia, and organic compounds.
Carbon dioxide on Charon likely originates from below the surface, exposed by impact events revealing the moon's subsurface.
The unexpected presence of hydrogen peroxide suggests active alteration of Charon's surface by ultraviolet light and cosmic rays.
These discoveries offer valuable clues about the formation and evolution of icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt, enhancing our knowledge of the outer Solar System.