Scientists uncover three distinct groups of icy bodies beyond Neptune, reshaping views on solar system formation.

Researchers from the University of Central Florida have published a study in Nature Astronomy that offers new insights into the formation of the outer solar system. By analyzing trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and centaurs, they discovered three distinct groups shaped by early solar system ice retention lines. The study, using the James Webb Space Telescope, links these groups' compositions to their formation conditions, revealing how TNOs' spectral signatures change as they move closer to the sun.

3 months ago
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