Measurement of D/H and 13C/12C Ratios in Methane Ice on Eris and Makemake: Evidence for Internal Activity

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Grundy, W M, Wong, I, Glein, C R, Protopapa, S, Holler, B J, Cook, J C, Stansberry, J A, Parker, A H, Lunine, J I, Pinilla-Alonso, N, A C de Souza Feliciano, Brunetto, R, Emery, J P, Licandro, J
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 10.09.2023
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Comets; Dwarf planets; Eris (dwarf planet); Hydrogen atoms; Imaging spectrometers; Infrared imaging; Infrared spectrometers; Infrared telescopes; Interiors; James Webb Space Telescope; Methane; Outer solar system; Outgassing; Solar system; Space telescopes; Surface chemistry; Trans-Neptunian objects
• ISSN: 2331-8422

James Webb Space Telescope's NIRSpec infrared imaging spectrometer observed the outer solar system dwarf planets Eris and Makemake in reflected sunlight at wavelengths spanning 1 through 5 microns. Both objects have high albedo surfaces that are rich in methane ice, with a texture that permits long optical path lengths through the ice for solar photons. There is evidence for N2 ice absorption around 4.2 um on Eris, though not on Makemake. No CO ice absorption is seen at 4.67 um on either body. For the first time, absorption bands of two heavy isotopologues of methane are observed at 2.615 um (13CH4), 4.33 um (12CH3D), and 4.57 um (12CH3D). These bands enable us to measure D/H ratios of (2.5 +/- 0.5) x 10-4 and (2.9 +/- 0.6) x 10-4, along with 13C/12C ratios of 0.012 +/- 0.002 and 0.010 +/- 0.003 in the surface methane ices of Eris and Makemake, respectively. The measured D/H ratios are much lower than that of presumably primordial methane in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, but they are similar to D/H ratios in water in many comets and larger outer solar system objects. This similarity suggests that the hydrogen atoms in methane on Eris and Makemake originated from water, indicative of geochemical processes in past or even ongoing hot environments in their deep interiors. The 13C/12C ratios are consistent with commonly observed solar system values, suggesting no substantial enrichment in 13C as could happen if the methane currently on their surfaces was the residue of a much larger inventory that had mostly been lost to space. Possible explanations include geologically recent outgassing from the interiors as well as processes that cycle the surface methane inventory to keep the uppermost surfaces refreshed.