Reflectance spectrum of the double-ringed centaur 10199 Chariklo, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on October 31, 2022. This spectrum shows clear evidence for crystalline water ice on Chariklo’s surface.
A reflectance spectrum shows variations in the brightness of different wavelengths (colors) of reflected sunlight. The dips in the spectrum are related to the presence of water ice, which absorbs these wavelengths, decreasing the amount of light that is reflected back to the telescope.
The background illustration of Chariklo and its rings is based on current understanding of the planet. Webb has not captured a direct image of Chariklo and its rings.
Credits
Image
NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)
Science
Noemí Pinilla-Alonso (FSI/UCF), Ian Wong (STScI), Javier Licandro (IAC)
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | 10199 Chariklo |
| Object Description | Centaur |
| Distance | orbits the Sun between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | Reflectance spectrum |
| Instrument | NIRSpec |
| Exposure Dates | October 31, 2022 |
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object. |
| Object Description | The type of astronomical object. |
| R.A. Position | Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Dec. Position | Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Constellation | One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears. |
| Distance | The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs. |
| Dimensions | The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description |
|
| Instrument | The science instrument used to produce the data. |
| Exposure Dates | The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time. |
| Filters | The camera filters that were used in the science observations. |
| About The Image | |
| Image Credit | The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content. |
| Publication Date | The date and time the release content became public. |
| Color Info | A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented. |
| Orientation | The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere. |
