NASA’s Webb Reveals Unusual Jets of Volatile Gas from Icy Centaur 29P

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, L. Hustak (STScI)

An artist’s concept of Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1’s outgassing activity as seen from the side. While prior radio-wavelength observations showed a jet of gas pointed toward Earth, astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to gather additional insight on the front jet’s composition and noted three more jets of gas spewing from Centaur 29P’s surface.

« NASA’s Webb Reveals Unusual Jets of Volatile Gas from Icy Centaur 29P

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, L. Hustak (STScI), S. Faggi (NASA-GSFC, American University)

A team of scientists used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s spectrographic capabilities to gather data on Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, one of the most active objects in the outer solar system. The Webb data revealed never-before-seen features: two jets of carbon dioxide spewing in the north and south directions, and a jet of carbon monoxide pointing toward north.

« NASA’s Webb Reveals Unusual Jets of Volatile Gas from Icy Centaur 29P

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