Sodium_in_atmosphere_of_exoplanet_HD_209458.jpg


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English: Sodium in the atmosphere of the Hot Jupiter exoplanet of HD 209458, a 7th magnitude star, 150 light years away in the constellation Pegasus. Sodium filters out light from its parent star, and is detected using by analyzing absorption spectrum. Image Credit: A. Field, STScI
Date
Source Science @ NASA Alien Atmospheres Also at HubbleSite Newscenter
Author Responsible NASA official: John M. Horack

Astronomers using the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope have made the first direct detection and chemical analysis of the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system. Their unique observations show it is possible to measure the chemical makeup of extra-solar planetary atmospheres -- and potentially to search for chemical markers of life far beyond Earth. [[

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Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA . NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted ". (See Template:PD-USGov , NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy .)
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27 November 2001