JWST Data Suggests Neptune's Inner Moons Formed from Ancient Collision Debris

James Webb Space Telescope observations detected clay-like minerals on Neptune's inner moons Larissa, Galatea, and its rings, despite no visible water ice on the moons. This finding suggests the material originated from larger icy moons shattered during the gravitational capture of Triton, Neptune's largest moon. This event likely destroyed much of Neptune's original satellite system, offering new insights into planetary system evolution.