Frozen water found beyond solar system, plays key role in planet formation

In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified frozen water within a distant protoplanetary disk located in the Orion Nebula, a prominent star-forming region approximately 1,300 light-years from Earth.

The disk, named 114-426, spans a distance over 1,000 times the Earth-Sun separation and is believed to be a potential cradle for planet formation.

Using its advanced Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), the JWST captured high-resolution images that revealed the presence of water ice. This ice, in the form of tiny grains, coats dust particles within the disk. The detection was achieved at a wavelength of 3 micrometres, an observational range uniquely accessible to the JWST.

The protoplanetary disk's edge-on orientation offers an exceptional perspective for studying its structure and composition. The central band of the disk obscures the light from its parent star, creating a dramatic silhouette against the radiant background of the Orion Nebula. Meanwhile, scattered light from the disk's material produces vivid lobes that illuminate its surroundings.

The identification of water ice in this environment holds significant promise for the potential development of habitable conditions. Water, a critical component for life, plays a key role in the formation of planets and organic molecules.

In addition to frozen water, the JWST also detected other vital compounds within the disk, including carbon dioxide and methane. These volatile substances are fundamental building blocks for organic chemistry, further enhancing the disk’s significance as a site of planetary development.

The discovery has profound implications for understanding the processes of planet formation and the origins of water within our own Solar System. By observing these early stages of development in a distant system, scientists can gain insights into how habitable environments might emerge elsewhere in the universe.