NASA telescopes reveal new details on solar system planet formation

NASA’s James Webb and Hubble space telescopes have provided new insights into the early stages of planet formation within our solar system. By combining the capabilities of both telescopes, researchers conducted the deepest investigation to date of transneptunian objects (TNOs)—small, icy bodies that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune.

The study analyzed 27 newly discovered TNOs, some of which are among the smallest and faintest ever directly observed. Researchers evaluated the color, composition, and size distribution of these objects, using their colors as a proxy for surface characteristics. Findings revealed that there are fewer small TNOs than previously assumed and that their colors follow similar patterns to those of larger objects.