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 06 July 2008 03:32 BST

Hubble discovers methane on planet outside of solar system

Thursday, 20 Mar 2008 16:49
Artist's impression of the extrasolar planet HD 189733b

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The first organic matter on a planet outside of the Earth's solar system has been discovered by the Hubble telescope.

The space-based telescope found the signature of the molecule in the atmosphere of the Jupiter-sized extrasolar planet HD 189733b.

Scientists made the discovery as they studied the planet as it passed in front of its parent star.

The light from the star passed briefly through the atmosphere along the edge of the planet and the gases in the atmosphere were imprinted on the starlight.

"Water alone could not explain all the spectral features observed," said Giovanna Tinetti from the University College London and the European Space Agency.

"The additional contribution of methane is necessary to fit the Hubble data."

Scientists are excited at the finding as under the right circumstances methane can play a key role in the chemical reactions considered necessary to form life as we know it.

Methane has been detected on most of the planets in our solar system but this is the first time any organic molecule has been detected on a world orbiting another star.

Researchers say the discovery proves that Hubble and upcoming space missions can detect organic molecules on planets around other stars by using spectroscopy, which splits light into its components to reveal various chemicals.

"This is a crucial stepping stone to eventually characterising prebiotic molecules on planets where life could exist," said Mark Swain of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The discovery is published in the journal Nature.
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