“The secondary gap we see in the system is a strong indication of the presence of an ice giant in the system,” Gaspar said.
The observations from Webb, which launched in 2021 and began collecting data last year, were made by its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).
“Until now, nearly all resolved images of debris disks were for cold, outer regions corresponding to the Solar System’s Kuiper Belt,” said astronomer and study co-author Schuyler Wolff of the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory. ,
Wolff said MIRI can now resolve a relatively hot belt of material analogous to our main asteroid belt.
Studying these debris belts provides insight into the beginnings of the planets.
“Planets form within primary disks around young stars. Understanding this formation process requires a complete understanding of how these disks form and evolve,” Wolff said.
“There are many open questions about how the dust in these disks merges to form planetary embryos, how planetary atmospheres form, and so on. Debris disks are remnants of this planet formation process and their composition reflects the underlying planetary population.” may provide valuable clues for further dynamical history,” Wolff added.
