Astronomers find watery exoplanet
Posted: Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 7:44 AM ET (1244 GMT)
Astronomers aalyzing Hubble observations have concluded one known extrasolar planet has a thick atmosphere of water vapor and likely far more water than the Earth. Astronomers discovered the planet, GJ1214b, in 2009, and observations a year later suggested that it has either at atmosphere of water vapor or a haze layer. Follow-up infrared observations by Hubble as the planet transited its star confirmed the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere, based on the lack of features observed over a range of infrared wavelengths. The planet is a so-called "super Earth" with a diameter 2.7 times that of the Earth and seven times as massive. The resulting density suggests the planet has a larger fraction of water than the Earth.
Astronomers aalyzing Hubble observations have concluded one known extrasolar planet has a thick atmosphere of water vapor and likely far more water than the Earth. Astronomers discovered the planet, GJ1214b, in 2009, and observations a year later suggested that it has either at atmosphere of water vapor or a haze layer. Follow-up infrared observations by Hubble as the planet transited its star confirmed the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere, based on the lack of features observed over a range of infrared wavelengths. The planet is a so-called "super Earth" with a diameter 2.7 times that of the Earth and seven times as massive. The resulting density suggests the planet has a larger fraction of water than the Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 11
Musk’s Starlink in Crosshairs of Iran, Russia at UN Space Confab
Bloomberg News — 7:23 am ET (1223 GMT) Starlink Expansion Approval Prompts DirecTV Interference Concerns
Aviation Week — 7:23 am ET (1223 GMT) Eutelsat Secures French Export Credit Backing For OneWeb Order
Aviation Week — 7:21 am ET (1221 GMT) Space Force Plans For ‘Enhanced’ Protected Satcom Prototype
Aviation Week — 7:20 am ET (1220 GMT) The Founder of Rocket Lab on Competing with Billionaires to Lead in Space
Harvard Business Review — 7:19 am ET (1219 GMT) |
