Webb spots evolving rings around Chariklo, a tiny ringed centaur
TL;DR
James Webb Space Telescope observations show Chariklo's two rings changed opacity since earlier views: the inner ring is denser while the outer ring is more transparent. Scientists propose three explanations—higher-resolution viewing revealing ring substructure, changes in ring material or grain properties, or wavelength-dependent scattering—and note that a follow-up stellar occultation could help confirm the findings and improve understanding of ring dynamics around distant small bodies.
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- James Webb Space Telescope discovers the rings of tiny solar system body Chariklo are changing Space
- Webb Telescope Discovers Surprising Changes in an Asteroid’s Rings skyandtelescope.org
- Rings aren’t exclusive to giant planets: Chariklo, an icy body only about 250 kilometres across—shorter than Tasmania is long—carries two narrow rings, and Webb observations suggest they are changing on timescales of years. Space Daily
- James Webb Telescope catches big surprise from a tiny world NewsNation
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