Hubble Spots Hazy Worlds With Watery Atmospheres
Source: National Geographic
The Hubble Space Telescope has spied five alien worlds around distant stars that show clear signs of water vapor filling their atmospheres, according to a new study. The find represents the first conclusive detection and comparison of water vapor in the atmosphere of planets orbiting nearby stars.
While they all have unromantic names like WASP-17b, HD209458b, WASP-12b, WASP-19b, and XO-1b, they also all orbit nearby stars and show signs of water vapor in their atmospheres.
These “exoplanets” are no place for life, since each is classified as a hot Jupiter—gas giants that circle very closely to their parent suns. However, clear chemical fingerprints of water vapor were detected in light reflected off their uppermost cloud decks and seen by the storied space telescope.
“To actually detect the atmosphere of an exoplanet is extraordinarily difficult. But we were able to pull out a very clear signal, and it is water,” co-author Drake Deming, an astronomer at the University of Maryland, said in a statement.
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Read more: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/12/04/hubble-spots-hazy-worlds-with-watery-atmospheres/
Amazing things one can learn with a space telescope of quality.
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One example, the LK:
Gen. Leonov volunteered to go in a stripped down version that could not return to lunar orbit. He would have had to wait on the moon's surface for supplies and a return trip for at least a year.
Seldom hear about the wonders of space exploration on Corporate McPravda or da history books.
Agree 100-percent regarding the possibilities of life on other worlds throughout the multiverse. I believe more than a few of people have seen them touch our reality.
[fontsize="1"]Rex Heflin took these Polaroid images with his work camera, Santa Ana, California, Aug. 3, 1965.[/font size]
Martin Rees, the former Astronomer Royal of jolly old, was interviewed on NPR's "On Being"...
http://www.onbeing.org/program/cosmic-origami-and-what-we-dont-know/250
The guy said even the most amazing star is incredibly simple compared to the simplest insect, the chemistry, cell structure, organs and systems, etc are so much more complex that any life should be recognized as special.
He also described some of the more remarkable aspects of theory, including the structure of empty space and multiple dimensions. Absolutely fascinating.
I love space, while exploring, NASA, Space Images ect, I can actually fantasize I'm off this little spinning ball of dirt.
Sorry, couldn't resist. I just got done reading a thread on e-cigarettes and how (according to some message board pundits) people vaping them just exhale air and water vapor and how wonderful that is for the rest of us. Then I read the above -- "clear signs of water vapor filling their atmospheres" -- and it was the first thing to come to mind. 