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Centaur 10199 Chariklo (NIRSpec Reflectance Spectrum) [1]

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Date: 2023-03

Caption

Reflectance spectrum of the double-ringed centaur 10199 Chariklo, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on October 31, 2022. This spectrum shows clear evidence for crystalline water ice on Chariklo’s surface.

A reflectance spectrum shows variations in the brightness of different wavelengths (colors) of reflected sunlight. The dips in the spectrum are related to the presence of water ice, which absorbs these wavelengths, decreasing the amount of light that is reflected back to the telescope.

The background illustration of Chariklo and its rings is based on current understanding of the planet. Webb has not captured a direct image of Chariklo and its rings.

Read the story.

Credits

IMAGE: NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

SCIENCE: Noemí Pinilla-Alonso (FSI/UCF), Ian Wong (STScI), Javier Licandro (IAC)



Keywords

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[1] Url: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01GQJ89HXD39F20PSXS2KKKREB

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