Varuna's red surface hints at ancient organic chemistry
The distant dwarf planet candidate Varuna displays a distinctive reddish surface, hinting at ancient organic chemistry and the potential for life's building blocks in the outer solar system.
Far beyond Neptune, the dwarf planet candidate Varuna sports a striking reddish surface. This color comes from tholins, complex organic molecules formed when sunlight and cosmic rays hit icy methane and water. Scientists believe these hues reveal pristine materials from the solar system's birth, untouched for billions of years.
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