Makemake (IMAGE)
Caption
An SwRI-led team used Webb telescope observations (white) to detect methane gas on the distant dwarf planet Makemake. Sharp emission peaks near 3.3 microns reveal methane in the gas phase above Makemake’s surface. A continuum model (cyan) is overlaid for comparison; the gas emission peaks are identified where the observed spectrum rises above the continuum. An artistic rendering of Makemake’s surface is shown in the background.
Credit
Courtesy of S. Protopapa, I. Wong/SwRI/STScI/NASA/ESA/CSA
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