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Julian_M
- 12
- 2
Can the James Webb Space Telescope 5–28 µm spectra spectrometer detect all substances and gases? If not, what specific substances can it detect? In the following James Webb chemical inventory analysis of comet 3i/Atlas:
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.22034
They detected Co2, Co, Methane, Nickel in the comet. But it didn't mention about Methanol which was detected last year (see below). Does it mean there is still Methanol being produced that the James Webb can't detect or does it mean no more Methanol now? If JWST can't detect Methanol. Why is that? The methanol detection paper is here.
https://www.arxiv.org/pdf/2511.20845
In general. How do you know what substances can be detected by 5–28 µm spectra? Why can't 5–28 µm spectra detect Methanol? What substances or gases by be detected by 5–28 µm spectra? And how exactly?
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.22034
They detected Co2, Co, Methane, Nickel in the comet. But it didn't mention about Methanol which was detected last year (see below). Does it mean there is still Methanol being produced that the James Webb can't detect or does it mean no more Methanol now? If JWST can't detect Methanol. Why is that? The methanol detection paper is here.
https://www.arxiv.org/pdf/2511.20845
In general. How do you know what substances can be detected by 5–28 µm spectra? Why can't 5–28 µm spectra detect Methanol? What substances or gases by be detected by 5–28 µm spectra? And how exactly?