The James Webb Space Telescope has caught the rings around Chariklo, a small object orbiting between Saturn and Uranus, in the middle of unexpected change. Observations taken only a few years apart show the rings are not as stable as scientists had assumed.
According to the findings, Chariklo’s inner ring has become more opaque, while its outer ring has become less opaque. The shift happened over a short stretch of time, making the rings more dynamic than expected for such a distant and small body.
These changes offer a rare look at how rings around minor planets can evolve quickly. The results also raise new questions about what drives the transformation of ring material around small objects in the outer solar system.