articleNature AstronomyJan 23, 2023GREEN OA

An Ice Age JWST inventory of dense molecular cloud ices

MKM. K. McClureWRW. R. M. RochaKMK. M. PontoppidanNCNicolas CrouzetESE. Schunová

Leiden University · Space Telescope Science Institute · +33 more institutions

Indexed inarxivcrossref

Abstract

Icy grain mantles are the main reservoir of the volatile elements that link chemical processes in dark, interstellar clouds with the formation of planets and the composition of their atmospheres. The initial ice composition is set in the cold, dense parts of molecular clouds, before the onset of star formation. With the exquisite sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope, this critical stage of ice evolution is now accessible for detailed study. Here we show initial results of the Early Release Science programme Ice Age that reveal the rich composition of these dense cloud ices. Weak ice features, including 13CO2, OCN−, 13CO, OCS and complex organic molecule functional groups, are now detected along two…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Cloud computing
  • Molecular cloud
  • Environmental science
  • Astrobiology
  • Physics
  • Astrophysics
  • Computer science
  • Stars
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Life below water
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