Neptune's moon system is characterized by its unusual dynamics, with nearly half of its 16 moons orbiting backward. Among them, Triton, measuring about 1,680 miles across, stands out due to its peculiar behavior, leading astronomers to theorize that it did not form around Neptune. Instead, it is believed that four billion years ago, Triton entered Neptune's orbit like a wrecking ball, displacing any existing moons. A recent study published in the journal Science Advances, led by Matthew Belyakov from the California Institute of Technology, provides new insights into this theory. The researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe Nereid, a 210-mile-wide moon, for just 10 minutes. They discovered that Nereid's reflected light differs from typical Kuiper belt objects, showing a slightly bluer hue. This suggests that Nereid may not have originated from the Kuiper belt, supporting the idea that it could be a survivor from the time of Triton's disruptive formation. Computer models indicate that Triton needed to quickly escape its initial orbit for Nereid to remain intact, which adds another layer to the understanding of Neptune's moon system.