Water found on distant planet (hot Jupiter at 63 LY)

AI Thread Summary
Astronomers have detected water in the atmosphere of the exoplanet HD 189733b, located 63 light years away, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. This discovery was made by measuring light absorption as the planet transited its star, marking a significant advancement in exoplanet research. Despite the presence of water, HD 189733b is inhospitable for life due to its extreme surface temperatures reaching 1200K. The discussion highlights the effectiveness of absorption spectroscopy in identifying atmospheric components of distant planets. The interest lies in understanding how water can exist in such high temperatures, raising questions about atmospheric pressure and composition.
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Water found on distant planet
from PhysicsWeb News at 17:01 PM GMT
An international team of astronomers has obtained the first convincing evidence of water in the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system. They came to this conclusion using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to measure the light absorbed by the Jupiter-like planet HD 189733b as it passed in front of its companion star. However, the planet, which lies some 63 light years from Earth, is unlikely to harbour life as its surface temperature can reach 1200K. (Nature 448 169).
July 11, 2007 17:01 PM GMT
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I guess part of the point is that absorption spectroscopy can now detect water in the atmosphere of exoplanets.

It is no surprise that water exists on some exoplanets, but it is nice that instruments can detect it.

Now if they would find water in the atmosphere of a planet in habitable zone that would be nice.
 
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Astronomy news on Phys.org
What I want to know is, how is the water on such a planet prevented from boiling off? The normal boiling point for water on our planet is 373 degrees K, and this planet is apparently 4 times that hot...(I suppose an argument can be made for a higher atmospheric pressure on this panet but at this temp, that seems sort of unlikely to me...)
 
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When they say water - that includes water vapour.
The mass of a Jupiter like planet gives you a lot of gravity, certainly enough to hold onto an atmosphere,
our Jupiter is made of methane but that doesn't boil off.
 
thats so cool, thanks marcus =)
I personally find the technique they used even more interesting than the find itself
 
When they say water - that includes water vapour.
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I guess my mental image of streams of water being found was too optimistic :-p
 

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