Astronomers detect water in the atmosphere of a planet 179 light-years away(universetoday.com)
universetoday.com
Astronomers detect water in the atmosphere of a planet 179 light-years away
https://www.universetoday.com/140610/astronomers-detect-water-in-the-atmosphere-of-a-planet-179-light-years-away/
19 comments
What's almost equally amazing is the article actually includes the image it is discussing, rather than just some "artist's impression."
I hadn't realized it was now at the level of routine.
The article indicates "So far, astronomers have directly-imaged more than a dozen exoplanets."
20 AU...so like Neptune distance.
This is the kind of image that makes me want to fund super space telescope(s). Getting two space telescopes to work in conjunction like the Keks would be awesome for the resolving power.
20 AU...so like Neptune distance.
This is the kind of image that makes me want to fund super space telescope(s). Getting two space telescopes to work in conjunction like the Keks would be awesome for the resolving power.
It seems to be 129 light years away, not 179.
astrobiology.nasa.gov, the Open Exoplanet Catalogue, space.com, britannica.com all say it's (about) 129 light years away. Wikipedia says 129±4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HR_8799
http://www.openexoplanetcatalogue.com/planet/HR%208799%20e/
https://www.britannica.com/place/HR-8799
https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/a-four-planet-system-in-o...
astrobiology.nasa.gov, the Open Exoplanet Catalogue, space.com, britannica.com all say it's (about) 129 light years away. Wikipedia says 129±4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HR_8799
http://www.openexoplanetcatalogue.com/planet/HR%208799%20e/
https://www.britannica.com/place/HR-8799
https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/a-four-planet-system-in-o...
It is a gas giant with water, not a terrestrial planet. Sorry to burst your bubble.
From what I understand the important news is that it was possible to detect the presence of water in the first place, using a new technology (or rather, combination of technologies).
Isn't it still a large amount of water that could be extracted, if life is not possible within it? Or are there better ways to obtain water in space?
Water is actually abundant in space.
https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/the-solar-system-and-beyond-is-awas...
https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/the-solar-system-and-beyond-is-awas...
Also note that these planets are gas giants about 20AU away from the parent star. It's entirely possible that there are rocky planets closer to the star that might be getting occluded along with the star's light. Those may have water too.