Researchers have identified an unknown compound absorbing specific wavelengths of light on both Saturn's moon Titan and the dwarf planet Pluto. The finding comes from data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Bruno Bézard at the Paris Observatory led the team that spotted the narrow absorption band on Titan and a broader version of the same feature on Pluto. Both worlds share similar atmospheric chemistry dominated by nitrogen and methane, which produces haze particles that settle on their surfaces.
The compound does not match any known substances from Titan's atmosphere or common ices. A few near-matches exist, but researchers say the material is likely complex and may differ slightly in grain size between the two bodies.
Further work includes additional JWST observations to map the substance's location on Titan, ongoing laboratory tests, and data from NASA's Dragonfly mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2028 and land on Titan in 2034.