JWST stellar occultation reveals unexpected changes in Chariklo’s ring system
Ring systems have been found around several small bodies in the outer Solar System through stellar occultations. While such observations provide constraints on ring geometry and dynamical interactions, little is known about their origins, lifetimes, or compositions. Here, we report near-infrared stellar-occultation observations obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) probing the ring system of the Centaur Chariklo. Our measurements show that Chariklo’s dense inner ring has become significantly more opaque than in previous occultations, suggesting ongoing replenishment or dynamical restructuring. In contrast, the outer ring exhibits a much weaker near-infrared occultation signature than previously observed. This discrepancy may reflect material loss, suggesting that the outer ring could be transient or may arise from wavelength-dependent opacity. These observations demonstrate the power of JWST occultations to probe the evolving structure of rings around small bodies and provide compelling evidence for unexpected changes in Chariklo’s ring system.
Authors
- Csaba Kiss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8722-6875)
- N. Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0419-1599)
- Zhong-Yi Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-8991)
- N. Pinilla-Alonso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2770-7896)
- B. E. Morgado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0088-1808)
- Heidi B. Hammel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8751-3463)
- B. Sicardy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1995-0842)
- R. G. French (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9858-9532)
- Bryan J. Holler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6117-0164)
- Y. Kılıç (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8641-0796)
- E. Fernández-Valenzuela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2132-7769)
- P. Santos-Sanz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1123-983X)
- J. Desmars (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2193-8204)
- Stefanie N. Milam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7694-4129)
- C. L. Pereira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1000-8113)
- R. Duffárd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5963-5850)
- D. Souami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4058-0815)
- Mónica Vara-Lubiano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8112-0770)
- J. I. B. Camargo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1642-4065)
- F. Braga-Ribas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2311-2438)
- John Stansberry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2434-5225)
- F. L. Rommel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6085-3182)
- M. Assafin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8211-0777)
- G. Benedetti-Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4106-476X)
- A. R. Gomes-Júnior (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3362-2127)
- J. L. Ortiz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8690-2413)
- J. L. Rizos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9789-1203)
- Csilla Kalup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1663-0707)
Institutions
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- University of Central Florida (US)
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (BR)
- Space Telescope Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- University of Namur (BE)
- Universidad de Oviedo (ES)
- Wellesley College (US)
- National Central University (TW)
- Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (FR)
- Observatoire de Paris (FR)
- Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (ES)
- Konkoly Observatory (HU)
- University of Applied Science Budapest (HU)
- National Observatory (BR)
- HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (HU)
- Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia (BR)
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (BR)
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (ES)
- Instituto Nacional de Silicosis (ES)
- Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Avancées (FR)
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (BR)
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2026-09-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeh4794
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00