This Monday, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) discovered water vapor around Comet 238P/Read in the main asteroid belt! This new finding confirms that water ice from the early solar system can be preserved inside Jupiter’s orbit in the asteroid belt. Now that Comet Read has proven that ice water can be preserved for billions of years, vital research can progress on how so much water got onto Earth. In 2010, a mission was proposed to visit Comet Read, but plans were discontinued. However, with this new data, it would be worthy of reconsideration for future missions!
Catch up on other discoveries from JWST by clicking on the links below!
12 amazing James Webb Space Telescope discoveries across the universe
Webb Telescope finds water around Comet 238P/Read in Main Asteroid Belt
NASA’s Webb Finds Water, and a New Mystery, in Rare Main Belt Comet
