Makemake’s Hidden Activity: JWST Finds Methane Gas and Hydrocarbon Ices
JWST observations show that Makemake’s surface holds methane, ethane, acetylene, and possibly methanol, arranged in layered ices. The telescope also detected methane gas, either from a thin atmosphere or plume-like outgassing. These findings suggest Makemake is more active and chemically complex than once thought, challenging its image as a frozen, inactive world.
Catching Makemake’s Shadow: A New Look at Its Mysterious Moon
Daniel Bamberger reanalyzed Hubble images of Makemake and its moon MK2, finding an 18-day orbit nearly edge-on to Earth. This alignment could mean eclipses and transits are happening now, offering a rare chance to study the system’s size and surface features. Preliminary results also suggest Makemake is slightly less dense than earlier estimates.
Methane from the Beginning: A Primordial Origin for Methane on Eris and Makemake
Mousis et al. argue that the methane on Eris and Makemake likely formed in the early Solar System’s protosolar nebula, based on their high D/H ratios. Using disk chemistry models, they show that the methane’s isotopic signature matches a primordial origin, not internal production. This supports the idea that many outer Solar System bodies share common icy building blocks.