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[Edit: The title is slightly misleading. We've known about this object since 2014. What's new is the discovery of sugars found in its methanol ice.] Arrokoth i
by PeterCorless 2y ago
[Edit: The title is slightly misleading. We've known about this object since 2014. What's new is the discovery of sugars found in its methanol ice.]
Arrokoth is formerly known as 2014 MU69 and Ultima Thule, and is the furthest Trans Neptunian Object (TNO) explored by humankind. New Horizons made a flyby in 2019. It's a billion miles further away from Earth than Pluto.
Methanol ice on Arrokoth shows traces of ribose (C₅H₁₀O₅) — a natural part of DNA — and glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) sugars.
More from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/486958_Arrokoth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/486958_Arrokoth