What “Centaur 29P” Teaches Us, About Early Solar System Bodies

New data from the JWST suggests at least some, and perhaps many of these small icy primordial bodies may be the product of ancient "mash ups" -- that is, two or three different body-types -- which were smashed together, billions of years ago.

And now, as they spew out their subsurface volatiles, we see the evidence for perhaps three separate world-lettes, long ago all mushed together. Here's the latest from NASA:

. . .[The "Centaurs"] are former trans-Neptunian objects that have been moved inside Neptune’s orbit by subtle gravitational influences of the planets in the last few million years, and may eventually become short-period comets. They are “hybrid” in the sense that they are in a transitional stage of their orbital evolution: Many share characteristics with both trans-Neptunian objects (from the cold Kuiper Belt reservoir), and short-period comets, which are objects highly altered by repeated close passages around the Sun. . . .

Centaurs’ distant orbits and consequent faintness have inhibited detailed observations in the past. Data from prior radio wavelength observations of Centaur 29P showed a jet pointed generally toward the Sun (and Earth) composed of CO. [JWST] detected this face-on jet and, thanks to its large mirror and infrared capabilities, also sensitively searched for many other chemicals, including water (H2O) and CO2. The latter is one of the main forms in which carbon is stored across the solar system. No indication of water vapor was detected in the atmosphere of 29P, which could be related to the extremely cold temperatures present in this body.

The [JWST] telescope’s unique imaging and spectral data revealed never-before-seen features: two jets of CO2 emanating in the north and south directions, and another jet of CO pointing toward the north. This was the first definitive detection of CO2 in Centaur 29P. . . .

So it is that much of the star stuff that became. . . us, and all we see here on Earth, is the product of lots of little differences – brought together.

And so also, the darkness of ignorance too -- is pushed backward, one discovery at a time. Let it be so, in our electoral politics as well. . . for we cannot afford, as a nation, to go backward.

Onward, to "the undiscovered country" Will Shakespeare called the future.

नमस्ते