JWST Detects Clay‑Like Minerals on Neptune’s Inner Moons, Suggesting Ancient Catastrophe

The James Webb Space Telescope has identified clay‑like minerals on Neptune’s inner moons Larissa and Galatea, as well as in the planet’s rings. These minerals typically form when liquid water is present, yet the moons themselves show no clear evidence of water ice. Scientists propose that the material originated from the interiors of much larger icy moons that were shattered when Neptune’s captured moon Triton disrupted the planet’s original satellite system. The finding indicates that a violent collision in the past may have reshaped Neptune’s current collection of small moons.