They discover how the coldest objects in the solar system were formed

A recent study accessed by Earth.com delves deeper than ever into the understanding of icy planetesimals of the early solar system, including trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and centaurs. These small celestial formations, composed of dust and gas, cluster in protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars. Researchers have managed to map the distribution and evolution of these objects, offering new insights into the formation of the most distant regions of the solar system.

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The TNOs, as their name suggests, orbit beyond Neptune in areas like the Kuiper Belt and, in some cases, in the distant Oort Cloud. These bodies, which range from chunks of ice and rock to sizes similar to dwarf planets like Pluto, hold essential clues about the early solar system. Their composition, often rich in chemical compounds called tholins, gives them reddish or dark tones. Additionally, their isolation in deep space has allowed them to maintain these characteristics intact since their formation.

A team from the University of Central Florida used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to identify three distinct groups of TNOs based on ice retention lines, markers of extremely low temperatures in the protoplanetary disk. This allowed for the analysis of the molecules responsible for their varied spectra and colors, establishing a direct connection between their chemical characteristics and the conditions of their formation.

The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, also explored the centaurs, TNOs that have been drawn into the inner solar system after gravitational interactions with Neptune. As these bodies approach the Sun, they experience heating, develop comet-like tails, and undergo changes on their surfaces, which often feature dusty mantles. These processes highlight their unique evolution compared to the more distant TNOs.

Although key patterns in the composition of these objects have already been identified, these findings are just the beginning. Researchers plan to delve deeper into how these groupings emerged, paving the way for future discoveries about the origin and evolution of the solar system.

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