Oxygen at Extrasolar Planet, a First

space.com ^ | 02/02/04 | Tariq Malik

[KevinDavis]

Astronomers have detected the first presence of oxygen and carbon in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet, a world already known to be venting massive amounts of gas into space.

The find is evidence of an atmospheric "blow off" in action, where energetic hydrogen gas drags heavier elements along for a supersonic ride into space.

[KevinDavis]

Well if there is oxygen on a different planet, there has to be a Earth like planet. I think in 50 years we will find a Earth like planet outside this solar system. Time to develop warp speed.

[BenLurkin]

Hopefully we'll find a planet that isn't having an "atmospheric blow-off". Somehow I just don't like the sound of that.

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[smith288]

Hopefully we'll find a planet that isn't having an "atmospheric blow-off". Somehow I just don't like the sound of that.

Itll be the new phrase that replaces "Greenhouse effect" or "Global Warming".

[templar]

Oxygen in an atmosphere and earthlike do not nescessarily have any realtionship at all.

[Hunble]

You are correct and the detection of oxygen is not that surprising. Oxygen is a natural by-product of the carbon cycle (sometimes called the CNO cycle) of the proton-proton nuclear reaction of early-type stars.

Now if they detect molecular O2, then my ears would perk up very rapidly!

[night reader]

Oxygen in an atmosphere and earthlike do not nescessarily have any realtionship at all.

Earthlike, No! Far from it! But is there another process other than photosynthesis that would explain free oxygen in significant quantities in a planetary atmosphere?

[edwin hubble]

Oxygen detected on a distant planet.

Conventional wisdom says holds that oxygen in stable quantities in a planetary atmosphere would have to mean some replenishment (from a life form) since oxygen is so reactive.

But in this case it seems to be some massive geo-chemical mechanism unrelated to life processes.

[irv]

I think in 50 years we will find a Earth like planet outside this solar system

It's going to be almost impossible to find Earth-like planets without actually venturing out there to find them. They're too small and too far away.

I hate to say it, but barring a revolution in physics (along the lines of anti-gravity) 50 years may be a bit optimistic.

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[edwin hubble]

"It's going to be almost impossible to find Earth-like planets without actually venturing out there to find them. They're too small and too far away."

Interferometry with a baseline distance of Jupiter's orbit could give us the needed resolution.

[GeronL]

well... actually warp is not a speed.... it is bending space to go from one point to another without actually increasing their literal speed... would take a massive amount of power and gravitational manipulation and I wouldn't want to be near a planet if I did it

[Hunble]

Interferometry with a baseline distance of Jupiter's orbit could give us the needed resolution.

Now that is one space project that will be worth it's weight in gold.

Sign me up as a very willing taxpayer for that project!

[qam1]

Now if they detect molecular O2, then my ears would perk up very rapidly!

Not necessary, Mercury's atmosphere contains 5.6% molecular Oxygen and I don't think there is life there.

[Hunble]

You are correct of course and you had me curious.

The key is Mercury's rather unusual temperature variations:

min 90K
mean 440K
max 700 K

For molecular O2 to form, the temperature must be low enough.

P.S. For those who do not understand temps in Kelvin, 273 K is the freezing point of water, or 0 degrees Centigrade.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[null and void]

The tau project would be way kewl!

Orbit of Jupiter feh! The tau project envisions sending two probes Thousands of Astromical Units out of the plane of the galaxy, giving us the ability to both see the center of the galaxy in visible light and to take stereo images of the whole galaxy.

Imagine two Hubble class optical telescopes teamed with two Aricibo class radio telescopes with a few thousand AU base line!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The article doesn't say whether the oxygen is atomic, molecular or ionized. It also doesn't say anything about the planet's mass.