Webb detects giant collisions creating moons around distant stars

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered evidence that giant collisions creating moons occur across many planetary systems. Researchers analyzed 21 extreme debris disks, finding smaller dust grains, warm dust near stars, and fluctuating brightness. One-third contained significant silica, suggesting Mars-sized collisions; two-thirds showed Moon-sized impacts.

To just see their mid-infrared emission and beautiful spectral features with Webb, which allowed us to identify their compositions, was the most exciting thing for me.