Hubble Astronomers Study Distant Planets, Other Odd Finds

 
 
for Those Traveling to and from Oregon; Space Travel
     
 

Hubble Astronomers Study Distant Planets, Other Odd Finds

Published 07/27/2014

(Portland, Oregon) – Astronomers from around the world studying data from the Hubble Telescope have made two remarkable discoveries recently, including a new object in deep space that's puzzling and data from three alien worlds that threatens to put a new kink in the study of exoplanets.

Scientists looking for evidence of water in three planets between 60 and 900 light-years away have hit a bump, finding much less water vapor in their atmospheres than predicted in standard planet-formation theories.

"Our water measurement in one of the planets, HD 209458b, is the highest-precision measurement of any chemical compound in a planet outside the solar system, and we can now say with much greater certainty than ever before that we've found water in an exoplanet," said Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, who led the research. "However, the low water abundance we are finding is quite astonishing."

The very low levels of water vapor found by this research raises a number of questions about the chemical ingredients that lead to planet formation, say researchers.

Madhusudhan said that this finding presents a major challenge to exoplanet theory, opening a “whole can of worms” when it comes to planet formation. Previous models caused them to expect much more water.

In the startling discovery department, Hubble researchers have come across a new and puzzling formation in the cosmos: a 100,000-light-year-long structure that looks like a string of pearls twisted into a corkscrew shape.

The "pearls" on the Slinky are superclusters of blazing, blue-white, newly born stars. The whole assembly, which looks like a tug-of-war, must result from the gravitational tidal forces present in the collision.

The super star clusters appear to be evenly spaced along the chain at separations of 3,000 light-years from one another.

Scientists consider this discovery quite a surprise, saying they've never seen anything like it. They believe it was likely short-lived, however.

 

 

 

 
     

Explore Oregon's Regions

 

Oregon Coast

Portland
Portland Restaurants, Dining

Columbia Gorge
Columbia Gorge Lodging

Eastern Oregon

Yamhill Wine Country

Southern Oregon

Central Oregon

Willamette Valley

International, United States Travel, Attractions, Flight Deals

Travel News

OregonTravelDaily home

Contact OregonTravelDaily.com

Washington Coast

Subscribe to this travel news feed in a reader

 
     

 

Latest Travel News

 


Delicious Secrets on the Border of Beaverton / Portland, Oregon
Yet some jaw-dropping culinary secrets exist here, hiding in plain sight
Oregon #OptOutside Day Brings Free Fishing, Nov. 27-28
This weekend, after the afterglow of Thanksgiving is done, Oregon gives you a couple of free days
Washington's Goldendale Observatory Begins Virtual Space Programs
Goldendale Observatory is hosting a series of online / virtual programs each week that take you beyond the Earth's bounds
Top Five World Hotel Groups Hit Hardest By Coronavirus
for many countries it is likely to take years for the industry to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels
New Video for Walla Walla, Washington Provides Dreamy Glimpses of Rugged, Cul...
Rural yet chic. That's how the local visitors center is describing the area