Archive → October, 2009
Hubble Finds Carbon Dioxide on Remote Planet
For a long time, astronomers have wanted to find other life forms in faraway planets. Although this is still considered as science fiction scientist have recently become excited when the hubble space telescope discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet. This jupiter sized planet called HD 189733b is 63 light years away and much too hot to support any form of life. However the mere discovery of carbon dioxide in atmospher es outside earth is already a fantastic achievement for astronomy.
What this discovery signifies is that there is further chance of discovering other planets in the future that migth have carbon dioxide and other earth like qualities those that may be able to support intelligent life. In early 2008 hubble found methane in the planets atmosphere. Also previous observation of HD 189733b by hubble and spitzer space telescope found water vapor.