Astronomers were able to detect the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere of a distant planet which is still incapable of harboring life.
Astronomers were able to detect the presence of water vapor and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of planet HR8799c, a distant planet that is 130 light years away from Earth. However, according to scientists, the planet is still incapable of harboring life as its surface temperature exceeds 1,000 degree Celsius. Also, the planet has no methane, a gas that is essential for harboring life.
The analysis was made using the most precise atmospheric measurements ever used of a planet outside our solar system, The findings showed how the levels of gases explained how the planet formed, from a cluster of ice crystals tens of millions of years ago.
Over the last decade and a half, astronomers have detected more than 1,000 planets beyond our solar system. HR8799c circles a star that has three other planets orbiting around it. The mass of this planet is seven time that of Jupiter, which is the largest planet of the earth's solar system.
For a more accurate reading, astronomers used a telescope at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii to look at the planet. They also used an instrument called Osiris to record incoming infrared light. The 30 million years old planet was found to be young, extremely hot and easy to see in the infrared range.
However, the new discovery of water in the planet doesn't make it a contender to harbor life.
"Even though we see water, we don't expect there to be any chance of life on this planet," the scientist said. "There is no solid surface and it's really hot," said Quinn Konopacky at the University of Toronto. Surface temperatures on the planet are thought to exceed 1,000C.
However, the new discovery which led to conducting more measurements helped scientists understand how these planets are formed.
