Prominent Mid-infrared Excess of the Dwarf Planet (136472) Makemake Discovered by JWST/MIRI Indicates Ongoing Activity
Abstract We report on the discovery of a very prominent mid-infrared (18–25 μ m) excess associated with the trans-Neptunian dwarf planet (136472) Makemake. The excess, detected by the Mid-Infrared Instrument of the James Webb Space Telescope, along with previous measurements from the Spitzer and Herschel space telescopes, indicates the occurrence of temperatures of ∼150 K, much higher than what solid surfaces at Makemake’s heliocentric distance could reach by solar irradiation. We identify two potential explanations: a continuously visible, currently active region powered by subsurface upwelling and possibly cryovolcanic activity covering ≤1% of Makemake’s surface or an as-yet-undetected ring containing very small carbonaceous dust grains, which have not been seen before in trans-Neptunian or Centaur rings. Both scenarios point to unprecedented phenomena among trans-Neptunian objects and could greatly impact our understanding of these distant worlds.
Authors
- Csaba Kiss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8722-6875)
- G. Marton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1326-1686)
- Csilla Kalup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1663-0707)
- Bryan J. Holler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6117-0164)
- E. Fernández-Valenzuela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2132-7769)
- Zsolt Regály (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5573-8190)
- Anikó Farkas-Takács (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5531-1381)
- Gyula M. Szabó (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0606-7930)
- P. Santos-Sanz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1123-983X)
- A. H. Parker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6722-0994)
- Christopher R. Glein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2161-4672)
- Silvia Protopapa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8541-8550)
- Ian Wong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9665-8429)
- András Pál (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5449-2467)
- E. Vilenius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6184-7681)
- John Stansberry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2434-5225)
- E. Lellouch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7168-1577)
- Róbert Szakáts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1698-605X)
- J. L. Ortiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8690-2413)
- A. Moór (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9360-2670)
- Thomas Müller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0717-0462)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal Letters
- Published
- 2024-11-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad8dcb
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.99
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Space Telescope Science Institute
- Fundación Carmen y Severo Ochoa
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal
- NASA Astrobiology Institute
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- National Research, Development and Innovation Office