Hubble finds carbon dioxide on extrasolar planet

Dantheman62 · 12-16-2008, 08:30 PM

10 December 2008
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. This is an important step in finding the chemical biotracers of life as we know it on other worlds.

The Jupiter-sized planet, called HD 189733b, is too hot for life. But new Hubble observations prove that the basic chemistry for life can be measured on planets orbiting other stars. Organic compounds can also be a by-product of life processes and their detection on an Earth-like planet may someday provide the first evidence for life beyond Earth.

Previous observations of HD 189733b by Hubble and the Spitzer Space Telescope found water vapour. Earlier this year Hubble found methane in the planet’s atmosphere.

"This is exciting because Hubble is allowing us to see molecules and to probe the conditions, chemistry, and composition of atmospheres on other planets," says researcher Mark Swain of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, USA. "Thanks to Hubble, we're entering an era where we are rapidly going to expand the number of molecules we know about on other planets."

For the rest of the story http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMY9STGOF_index_0.html

12-16-2008, 08:30 PM	#1
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Hubble finds carbon dioxide on extrasolar planet 10 December 2008 The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. This is an important step in finding the chemical biotracers of life as we know it on other worlds. The Jupiter-sized planet, called HD 189733b, is too hot for life. But new Hubble observations prove that the basic chemistry for life can be measured on planets orbiting other stars. Organic compounds can also be a by-product of life processes and their detection on an Earth-like planet may someday provide the first evidence for life beyond Earth. Previous observations of HD 189733b by Hubble and the Spitzer Space Telescope found water vapour. Earlier this year Hubble found methane in the planet’s atmosphere. "This is exciting because Hubble is allowing us to see molecules and to probe the conditions, chemistry, and composition of atmospheres on other planets," says researcher Mark Swain of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, USA. "Thanks to Hubble, we're entering an era where we are rapidly going to expand the number of molecules we know about on other planets." For the rest of the story http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMY9STGOF_index_0.html