First Sign of Water Found on Planet Outside Our Solar System

RolandTD20Kdrummer

The results don't necessarily figure into the search for life on other planets, but they go far to reassure many astronomers that their predictions are on track, said Barman, of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

"It means that our theoretical understanding of these planets is in the ballpark," he said. "We understand enough about them to predict that water should be there, and then water is there."

Scientists have predicted water vapor in the atmospheres of most planets orbiting other stars.

The results are a "confidence booster," Barman said. They were recently accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070410-planet-water.html

sponger

My background in astronomy is limited to what is taught in astronomy 101, but I still had a sneaking suspicion that there were planets out there that also had water. It's nice to know that I was right all along.

Collin

cool

onelongsong

if comets are ice; and they collide with planets; it only makes sense that there's water on other planets. you don't have to be a scientist to figure that out.

RyeGuy

theres gotta be other life forms out there besides us. I always wanted to be a pilot in an intergalactic war.

MakingWaves

This is cool stuff. Hopefully they will find more.

inmytree

RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:

The results don't necessarily figure into the search for life on other planets, but they go far to reassure many astronomers that their predictions are on track, said Barman, of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

"It means that our theoretical understanding of these planets is in the ballpark," he said. "We understand enough about them to predict that water should be there, and then water is there."

Scientists have predicted water vapor in the atmospheres of most planets orbiting other stars.

The results are a "confidence booster," Barman said. They were recently accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070410-planet-water.html

I wonder if jesus walked on it...

Alex_Coe

onelongsong wrote:

if comets are ice; and they collide with planets; it only makes sense that there's water on other planets. you don't have to be a scientist to figure that out.

Comets rarely crash into planets, especially planets with an atmoshphere that would support life as we know it.