Astronomers do it Again: Find Organic Molecules Around Gas Planet

Astronomers do it Again: Find Organic Molecules Around Gas Planet

www.nasa.gov

Peering far beyond our solar system, NASA researchers have detected the basic chemistry for life in a second hot gas planet, advancing astronomers toward the goal of being able to characterize planets where life could exist. The planet is not habitable but it has the same chemistry that, if found around a rocky planet in the future, could indicate the presence of life.

"It's the second planet outside our solar system in which water, methane and carbon dioxide have been found, which are potentially important for biological processes in habitable planets," said researcher Mark Swain of NAS

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This is quite fantastic news.

Another star system, Gliese 581, has the planets Gliese 581 b and c - which are categorised as super-Earth's. Would be interesting to see if the same technology could be used on the Gliese to detect organic molecules within her star system.

HD 209458b can now be used as a method of helping to document possible life within other star systems.

www.nasa.gov
(visit the link for the full news article)