Water on a Distant Planet
Evidence of water has been detected for the first time in a planet outside our solar system, a rare find for scientists eager to know whether life exists beyond Earth.
An astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, said water vapor has been found in the atmosphere of a large, Jupiter-like gaseous planet located 150 light years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. The planet is known as HD 209458b.
Other scientists reported that they were unable to find evidence of water in this planet's atmosphere, as well as another Jupiter-like planet.
The detection of the presence of water vapor was possible because this planet, from the vantage point of Earth, orbits directly in front of its star every 3-1/2 days, allowing measurements to be made. It is what is known as a transiting planet.
Scientists searching for signs of life beyond Earth are keen to learn about the presence of water on other planets because water is fundamental to the existence of life. Water is plentiful on Earth and has been found elsewhere in our solar system, for example in large deposits of ice at the north and south poles of Mars.
Planet HD 209458b also was the first planet outside the solar system found with an atmosphere and the first detected transiting planet. There are more than 200 known planets outside our solar system.
April 11, 2007 6:51 AM | Category: Water