Overview
- The peer-reviewed study, published Monday in Nature Astronomy, reports evidence of a very thin atmosphere around the distant object 612533 (2002 XV93).
- Researchers inferred the gas by analyzing a January 2024 stellar occultation, when the body briefly blocked a background star and subtly altered its light.
- The atmosphere appears 5 to 10 million times less dense than Earth’s and 50 to 100 times thinner than Pluto’s, with methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide as leading candidates.
- The team says cryovolcanic outgassing or a recent impact could supply the gas, and they expect fading or seasonal changes in coming years to help distinguish the source.
- Planetary scientists are calling for independent checks, with Alan Stern urging quick verification and planned James Webb Space Telescope observations as some skeptics suggest a near edge-on ring could mimic the signal.