The outer reaches of our solar system are home to more than just the eight familiar planets. Dwarf planets, such as Pluto, have also captured the attention of scientists. Recent discoveries suggest that two of these dwarf planets, Eris and Makemake, may have the conditions necessary to support life.
Located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond the orbit of Neptune, Eris and Makemake offer intriguing possibilities. Eris, a dwarf planet only slightly smaller than Pluto, boasts a higher concentration of rock in its core, making it 25% more massive. Makemake, on the other hand, is smaller in size with a radius of 1163 kilometers.
What makes these two dwarf planets especially interesting is the potential for geological activity. Similar to Pluto, Eris and Makemake could harbor underground oceans. These findings have been concluded by scientists from the Space Sciences Division of the Southwest Research Institute in Texas.
The key to these discoveries lies in the presence of methane. In a study conducted with the James Webb Space Telescope, it was found that both Eris and Makemake have gases on their icy surfaces, including methane. This gas can exist in two forms – abiotic and thermogenic – with differences in the ratio of hydrogen and deuterium in their molecules. By analyzing this ratio, scientists have gained insights into the potential existence of liquid water beneath the icy surfaces of Eris and Makemake.
While these findings are not definitive proof of life, they do increase the possibility of finding it far from the Sun. Scientists are eager to further study the potential sources of liquid water on these dwarf planets in the coming years. The Kuiper Belt is revealing itself to be a dynamic region, showing the potential for a spacecraft to explore and provide precise geological context based on the data collected by the James Webb Telescope.
The search for life beyond our own planet continues to push the boundaries of our knowledge and imagination. Eris and Makemake, with their potential for liquid water, offer a new hope that life may exist in the far reaches of our solar system.
FAQ:
1. What are Eris and Makemake?
Eris and Makemake are dwarf planets located in the outer reaches of our solar system, specifically in the Kuiper Belt beyond the orbit of Neptune.
2. What makes Eris and Makemake interesting?
Both Eris and Makemake have the potential for geological activity and are believed to have underground oceans similar to Pluto. They also contain gases, including methane, on their icy surfaces.
3. How were these findings made?
Scientists from the Space Sciences Division of the Southwest Research Institute in Texas conducted a study using the James Webb Space Telescope. They analyzed the ratio of hydrogen and deuterium in the methane on Eris and Makemake to gain insights into the potential existence of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces.
4. Does the presence of methane on Eris and Makemake prove the existence of life?
No, the presence of methane does not definitively prove the existence of life. However, it does increase the possibility of finding life in these regions.
Related Links:
– NASA
– Southwest Research Institute
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