Water was found on a comet between Jupiter and Mars
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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope photographed water vapor around a comet in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. This is reported by NASA. “This is another long-awaited scientific breakthrough, this time for solar system scientists studying the origin of abundant water on Earth,” says NASA. Using Webb’s NIRSpec (Near Infrared Spectrograph), astronomers have confirmed for the first time the presence of water vapor around comet 238P/Read in the main asteroid belt. However, the discovery of water comes with a new mystery: unlike other comets, the comet had no detectable carbon dioxide. The water ice evaporates as 238P/Read’s orbit approaches the Sun. Photo: NASA Comet Read is an object located in the main asteroid belt. Before this discovery, it was believed that ice could be stored on such comets farther from the Sun. However, scientists have long assumed that water ice could be stored in the warmer asteroid belt, inside the orbit of Jupiter, but there was no conclusive evidence. Comet 238P/Read was imaged on September 8, 2022. Photo: NASA “In the past we’ve seen objects in the main belt with all the characteristics of comets, but only with this precise spectral data from Webb can we say that it’s definitely water ice that’s causing this effect,” explained astronomer Michael Kelly. of the University of Maryland, lead author of the study. As Space writes, the study of comet 238P/Read may help reveal the source of Earth’s water, a vital ingredient for life on our planet. The discovery of water vapor around a comet could greatly strengthen theories that water was delivered to our planet from space by comets. Read also: The company offers tourists to eat “Michelin” dishes in space for $130,000
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