Story perspectives

Discovery of Methane on Makemake Challenges Inactive Status

9/10/2025

50 8

Summary

Story summary

Astronomers discovered gaseous methane on the dwarf planet Makemake using the James Webb Space Telescope, challenging its classification as inactive.
Located 46 astronomical units from the Sun, Makemake is the second trans-Neptunian object confirmed to have gas, following Pluto.
The methane detection suggests a tenuous atmosphere or plume-like outgassing events.
Future observations may reveal methane sources with rates similar to Saturn's moon Enceladus.
This finding indicates ongoing geological activity on Makemake, contrary to previous beliefs.

1 of 1

Story summary

Astronomers discovered gaseous methane on the dwarf planet Makemake using the James Webb Space Telescope, challenging its classification as inactive.
Located 46 astronomical units from the Sun, Makemake is the second trans-Neptunian object confirmed to have gas, following Pluto.
The methane detection suggests a tenuous atmosphere or plume-like outgassing events.
Future observations may reveal methane sources with rates similar to Saturn's moon Enceladus.
This finding indicates ongoing geological activity on Makemake, contrary to previous beliefs.