Scientists have uncovered an exciting finding on planet HD 209458b located a mere 150 light years from our planet Earth. This planet resides in the Pegasus Constellation (and no, it’s not the one where Atlantis is located).
As most scientists are aware, generally where there is water, there is life â€" so you can imagine the excitement in the world of astrobiology and astronomy.
This is the first time that any real evidence for water on any planet outside our own solar system has been detected and the fact that we now know it contains H2O increases the probablity of life beyond our limited field of influence.
The water has been located as a vapor within the atmosphere of HD 209458b, which is a large gas giant similar to our solar system’s planet Jupiter.
“I’m very confident,†said astronomer Travis Barman of the Lowell Observatory. “It’s definitely good news because water has been predicted to be present in the atmosphere of this planet and many of the other ones for some time.â€
According to Barman a planet like HD 209458b is more likely not to have sentient life, as compared to a more rocky Earth-like planet but admits that finding water vapor in the gas giant’s atmosphere will most likely not answer definitive questions about the existence of extraterrestrial life.
“Certainly this is part of that puzzle â€" understanding the distribution of water in other solar systems is important for understanding whether or not conditions for life are possible. The presence of water does not exclude the possibility of life, but it doesn’t mean it’s there, either,†Barman added. “[These current] findings do provide good reasons to believe other planets beyond our solar system also have water vapor in their atmospheres.
Science writer Will Dunham is quick to remind us that while water is plentiful here on Earth, it has also been in other locations within our own solar system, such as the north and south Martian polarcaps and on several moons surrounding various planets.
“Planet HD 209458b also was the first planet outside the solar system found with an atmosphere and the first detected transiting planet,†stated Dunham. “There are more than 200 known planets outside our solar system.â€
I read about that on Yahoo. Very cool news indeed!
Wow that's amazing.
It's so cool what they can see these days. Soon enough, we might actually have a device like Nomad. But hopefully not just like Nomad. :)
This is really exciting stuff and I love astronomy. One thing I would love to see before I shuffle off the mortal coil is to see man land on Mars, it would be our generations moon landing. (if you believe we even went there) :D
Wow cool who knows if the life forms are like starship inept to starships then we will be saying "engage" very soon (well thats my Sci-fi take on it)
Quote from: trekkygeek on April 12, 2007, 08:55:19 AM
This is really exciting stuff and I love astronomy. One thing I would love to see before I shuffle off the mortal coil is to see man land on Mars, it would be our generations moon landing. (if you believe we even went there) :D
I remember watchcing the moon landing on our black and white television. A glorious event.
Cool! Now if they would just give that gas giant an actual name..."HD 209458b" just doesn't sing.
lol it will be P3908526 (random stargate adress i made up :))