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Methane Discovered on Makemake: A Dynamic Icy World

9/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Methane gas detected on Makemake, indicating a dynamic icy world.
A team from the Southwest Research Institute, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, made the finding.
Makemake is the second trans-Neptunian object after Pluto found to have gas.
The methane may stem from a tenuous atmosphere or transient plumes, with surface pressure about 10 picobars.

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Story summary

Methane gas detected on Makemake, indicating a dynamic icy world.
A team from the Southwest Research Institute, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, made the finding.
Makemake is the second trans-Neptunian object after Pluto found to have gas.
The methane may stem from a tenuous atmosphere or transient plumes, with surface pressure about 10 picobars.