First Direct Measurements of Atmosphere on World Around Another Star (artist's impression)

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have made the first direct detection of the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a star outside our solar system.

Their unique observations demonstrate that it is possible with Hubble and other telescopes to measure the chemical makeup of alien planet atmospheres and to potentially search for the chemical markers of life beyond Earth.

The planet orbits a yellow, Sun-like star called HD 209458, located 150 light-years away in the constellation Pegasus.

Credit:

G. Bacon (STScI/AVL)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo0138a
Type:Artwork
Release date:27 November 2001, 19:00
Size:3300 x 2529 px

About the Object

Name:HD 209458
Type:Milky Way : Planet : Feature : Atmosphere
Milky Way : Star
Distance:150 light years
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
1.4 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
192.8 KB

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