The James Webb Space Telescope has made a key discovery on Charon, Pluto’s largest moon, by detecting carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on its surface for the first time. Published in Nature Communications on October 1, 2024, this finding builds on previous data from NASA’s 2015 New Horizons mission, which revealed water ice on Charon. The moon is located in the distant and frigid Kuiper Belt, over 3 billion miles from the sun. Researchers suggest hydrogen peroxide forms due to radiation interacting with water molecules, while carbon dioxide may result from external impacts. These chemicals were detected using the advanced infrared sensors of the Webb telescope, which were more sensitive than previous instruments. This discovery enhances scientists’ knowledge of Charon’s composition and may provide deeper insights into how distant moons and planets develop. Understanding the chemical makeup of celestial bodies like Charon is important for studying the evolution of the outer solar system, and the findings could potentially reshape existing theories about the formation of such objects.