James Webb Space Telescope detects methane on interstellar comet 3I/Atlas (heise.de)

• First direct methane detection on an interstellar comet
• JWST MIRI detected CO2, H2O, methane; methane released from subsurface via sublimation
• High CO2 and methane-to-water ratios imply distinct formation conditions

"The James Webb Space Telescope has detected methane on the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas – the first direct detection of methane on an object from another star system. Observations with the MIRI instrument also revealed carbon dioxide and water vapor. The abundance of CO2 and methane relative to water is unusually high, suggesting different formation conditions than in the solar system. The results were published in the Astrophysical Journal."