Story perspectives
JWST Uncovers Methane Mystery on Makemake's Surface
10/2/2025
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Story summary
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) detects faint methane around Makemake, suggesting higher activity.
- Makemake lies in Kuiper Belt, 890 miles (1,430 km) across, with a small moon named MK2.
- Methane may come from surface ice sublimation or from outgassing beneath the icy surface.
- Gas pressure around Makemake is ultra-low, complicating atmospheric confirmation.
- Follow-up JWST observations will investigate methane's origins.
