CNN —Astronomers have detected a crucial carbon molecule in space for the first time using the James Webb Space Telescope.
Methyl cation is considered a key component that helps form more complex carbon-based molecules.
The space observatory detected methyl cation in a protoplanetary disk, called d203-506, swirling around a young red dwarf star.
ESA/Webb/NASA/CSAWhile methyl cation doesn’t react efficiently with hydrogen, the most abundant molecule in the universe, it reacts well with a wide range of other molecules.
But methyl cation wasn’t detected in space until now.
Persons:
James Webb, Webb, ”, Marie, Aline Martin, Olivier Berné
Organizations:
CNN —, James Webb Space Telescope, Orion, NASA, ESA, Webb, Orion Nebula, University of Paris, Saclay’s, Molecular Sciences, Orsay, French National Centre for Scientific Research
Locations:
France, Toulouse