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Hubble telescope finds carbon dioxide on distant planet
AFP on Yahoo ^ | 12/9/08 | AFP

Posted on 12/09/2008 6:36:06 PM PST by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON (AFP) – NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of a distant planet, in a key step for finding extraterrestrial life, the space agency said Tuesday.

Detecting organic compounds that can be a by-product of life processes on an Earth-like body could one day "provide the first evidence of life beyond our planet," NASA said in a statement.

The discovery was made on a Jupiter-size planet 63 light years away from Earth that is too hot for life, and is all gas and liquid.

"We're not closer to discovering life on this particular planet," admitted Ray Villard of the Space Telescope Science Institute.

"But it has the mix of chemistry that on the right planet could be a biotracer for life," he said.

Scientists have studied the planet intensively, finding the organic molecule methane as well as water vapor, Villard added.

The carbon dioxide and monoxide were detected by Mark Swain, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, using Hubble to study infrared light emitted from the planet.

"The carbon dioxide is the main reason for the excitement because, under the right circumstances, it could have a connection to biological activity as it does on Earth," Swain said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carbondioxide; distant; hubble; planet
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1 posted on 12/09/2008 6:36:09 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Hubble CO2 Ping


2 posted on 12/09/2008 6:36:53 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed)
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To: NormsRevenge

clearly suv killed the planet


3 posted on 12/09/2008 6:37:36 PM PST by Flavius (war gives peace its security)
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This visible-light image from the Hubble released on November 13, 2008 shows the newly discovered planet, Fomalhaut b, orbiting its parent star. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of a distant planet, in a key step for finding extraterrestrial life, the space agency said Tuesday. (AFP/NASA/ESA/Paul Kalas)


4 posted on 12/09/2008 6:37:44 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed)
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To: NormsRevenge

I’m sure it’s George Bush’s fault that there are rising CO2 levels there.


5 posted on 12/09/2008 6:38:29 PM PST by Redcloak ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: NormsRevenge
it could have a connection to biological activity as it does on Earth

Send Algore to stop this NOW!

6 posted on 12/09/2008 6:38:58 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is an EVIL like no other, and must be ERADICATED)
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To: FatherofFive
WE DIDN'T LISTEN!
7 posted on 12/09/2008 6:44:09 PM PST by txroadkill (I am Senate Candidate No. 5)
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To: Flavius

Ya, if they are finding carbon dioxide, doesn’t that imply that some kind of chemical reaction caused it? I bet the aliens there drive Hummers.


8 posted on 12/09/2008 6:46:13 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: NormsRevenge

OMG, OMG, it’s everywhere!


9 posted on 12/09/2008 6:56:40 PM PST by Freedom_Fighter_2001 (Prince Albert + RAGE = Fat Albert)
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To: NormsRevenge

“... has discovered both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of a distant planet ...”

No. It was there 63 years ago, we don’t know what’s there now.


10 posted on 12/09/2008 6:58:58 PM PST by George from New England (escaped CT 2006; now living north of Tampa Bay)
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To: NormsRevenge

Must be Venus. lol


11 posted on 12/09/2008 7:12:05 PM PST by Maelstorm (This country was not founded with the battle cry "Give me liberty or give me a government check!")
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To: NormsRevenge

How the heck did they get the SUVs there?


12 posted on 12/09/2008 7:13:53 PM PST by Scutter
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To: NormsRevenge
By God does the evil of the GOP, Bush, and Big Oil know no bounds!?! /sarc
13 posted on 12/09/2008 7:14:12 PM PST by spikeytx86 (Pray for Democrats for they have been brainwashed by their fruity little club.)
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To: Scutter

I don’t know, but I would hate to see the “destination charge” the dealer slapped on them!


14 posted on 12/09/2008 7:14:56 PM PST by spikeytx86 (Pray for Democrats for they have been brainwashed by their fruity little club.)
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To: NormsRevenge
The discovery was made on a Jupiter-size planet 63 light years away from Earth that is too hot for life, and is all gas and liquid.

Those poor people just killed themselves off with runaway global warming. Everything melted. RIP. We're next! After this cold weather breaks.

15 posted on 12/09/2008 7:18:59 PM PST by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: NormsRevenge

Man made galactic warming alert


16 posted on 12/09/2008 7:20:17 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: NormsRevenge

Wait . . . carbon dioxide??? Cool. Other planets have SUV’s too.


17 posted on 12/09/2008 7:20:27 PM PST by DesertSapper (God, Family, Country . . . . . . . . . . and dead terrorists!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge
Proof Of Galactic Warming!!

Somebody call Algore.

18 posted on 12/09/2008 7:21:57 PM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: All

Will this deliberate destruction across the galaxy ever end !!!!


19 posted on 12/09/2008 7:25:53 PM PST by uncle fenders
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To: NormsRevenge

Must we pollute EVERYTHING in the Universe??? /s


20 posted on 12/09/2008 7:26:21 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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