Scientists detect water in atmospheres of several exoplanets
Posted: Fri, Dec 6, 2013, 7:16 AM ET (1216 GMT)
Astronomers announced this week they had detected evidence of water in the atmospheres of several "hot Jupiter" exoplanets. Two groups of astronomers used observations of the planets using the Hubble Space Telescope as they transited the stars, measuring what wavelengths of light from the star were absorbed by the planet's atmosphere as the exoplanet passed between the star and Earth. Astronomers said they detected relatively strong signals of water in the atmospheres of exoplanets WASP-17b and HD209458b, and other data consistent with the presence of water for exoplanets WASP-12b, WASP-19b, and XO-1b. All five exoplanets are gas giants that orbit very close to their stars.
Astronomers announced this week they had detected evidence of water in the atmospheres of several "hot Jupiter" exoplanets. Two groups of astronomers used observations of the planets using the Hubble Space Telescope as they transited the stars, measuring what wavelengths of light from the star were absorbed by the planet's atmosphere as the exoplanet passed between the star and Earth. Astronomers said they detected relatively strong signals of water in the atmospheres of exoplanets WASP-17b and HD209458b, and other data consistent with the presence of water for exoplanets WASP-12b, WASP-19b, and XO-1b. All five exoplanets are gas giants that orbit very close to their stars.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 22
Exolaunch Successfully Integrates Five Satellites with 'Spectrum' launch vehicle Ahead of Second Isar Aerospace Launch, A Landmark Mission for European and German Launch Sovereignty
Exolaunch — 5:51 pm ET (2251 GMT) Sateliot and PLD Space sign first commercial contract for a dedicated launch of two Tritó satellites with MIURA 5
PLD Space — 5:49 pm ET (2249 GMT) What cold-water geysers on Earth reveal about the habitability of ocean worlds
PSI — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) AAC Clyde Space ships VIREON satellites for launch
AAC Clyde Space — 5:48 pm ET (2248 GMT) Crosshill Joins as Space ISAC Member
Space ISAC — 5:43 pm ET (2243 GMT) |
