Makemake Archives - Astrobiology

Three station light curves of 2002 XV93’s stellar occultation on 10 January 2024. The flux points (points with error bars) observed at Kyoto (a), Kiso (b) and Fukushima stations (c) overlaid with the synthetic light curves (red lines, assuming a pure CH4 atmosphere and a best-fit surface pressure of 124 nanobars) are shown as a function of time. In panel c, the gray points are the flux points for the individual exposures, and the black points are those binned by a factor of 8. The vertical arrow represents the closest approach time to the shadow edge at Fukushima, at 13:12:50.818 UT. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Pluto, Status Report

The First Detection Of An Atmosphere On A Trans-Neptunian Object Beyond Pluto

by Keith CowingMay 8, 2026May 8, 2026

Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in the outer Solar System are predominantly small, icy worlds long presumed to be atmosphereless except for the largest bodies.

An SwRI-led team used Webb telescope observations (white) to detect methane gas on the distant dwarf planet Makemake. Sharp emission peaks near 3.3 microns reveal methane in the gas phase above Makemake’s surface. A continuum model (cyan) is overlaid for comparison; the gas emission peaks are identified where the observed spectrum rises above the continuum. An artistic rendering of Makemake’s surface is shown in the background. Courtesy of S. Protopapa, I. Wong/SwRI/STScI/NASA/ESA/CSA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Methane Gas Discovered On Makemake

by Keith CowingSeptember 11, 2025

A Southwest Research Institute-led team has reported the first detection of gas on the distant dwarf planet Makemake, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This discovery makes Makemake only […]

Eris -- NASA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Primordial Origin of Methane on Eris and Makemake Supported by D/H Ratios

by Keith CowingMarch 26, 2025March 26, 2025

Deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen, is a key tracer of the formation of the Solar System. Recent JWST observations have expanded the dataset of D/H ratios in methane on […]

Time evolution (from left to right) of small grains around Makemake under the influence of solar radiation pressure. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Prominent Mid-infrared Excess Of The Dwarf Planet (136472) Makemake Discovered by JWST/MIRI Indicates Ongoing Activity

by Keith CowingOctober 31, 2024October 31, 2024

We report on the discovery of a very prominent mid-infrared (18-25 um) excess associated with the trans-Neptunian dwarf planet (136472) Makemake.

Makemake -- NASA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Pluto, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Moderate D/H Ratios in Methane Ice on Eris and Makemake as Evidence of Hydrothermal or Metamorphic Processes in Their Interiors: Geochemical Analysis

by Keith CowingFebruary 19, 2024February 20, 2024

Dwarf planets Eris and Makemake have surfaces bearing methane ice of unknown origin. D/H ratios were recently determined from James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations of Eris and Makemake, giving […]

Eris and Makemake - SwRI

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Callisto, Comets and Asteroids, Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

SwRI Scientists Find Evidence Of Geothermal Activity Within Icy Dwarf Planets

by Keith CowingFebruary 15, 2024March 23, 2024

A team co-led by Southwest Research Institute found evidence for hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. Methane detected on […]