Carbon dioxide discovered on planet outside the solar system

Washington, December 11: A Hubble Space Telescope from NASA has discovered the presence of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide on the atmosphere of a planet, 63 light years away from the Earth.

Dr. Mark Swain, a research scientist from NASA’S Jet Propulsion Laboratory, together with his team discovered the organic compounds on the planet called HD 189733b. They used the Hubble Space Telescope in order to evaluate the infrared light emitted from the planet.

They were able to observe two different spectrums of light that showed signs of carbon dioxide that is at the concentration of one part per million to one part per ten million.

Astronomers have long been looking for signs for life outside our planet and carbon dioxide is one of the important signs indicating that a planet may support life.

NASA reported that the discovery of organic compounds outside the Earth can "provide the first evidence of life beyond our planet."

Dr. Swain further said, "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."

However, astronomers cannot celebrate yet because the planet called HD 189733b, would not be able to support life in any way. The planet that is almost the same mass as Jupiter is too big for any likelihood of life. It is also orbiting close to its star making it very hot for any living creature, with temperature-reach up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Though the planet may not be able to sustain life, the discovery is still a big leap towards the possible discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Ray Villard from the Space Telescope Science Institute said, "We're not closer to discovering life on this particular planet. But it has the mix of chemistry that on the right planet could be a biotracer for life.”

Other biotracers used to detect life are water, methane and oxygen. As of now, oxygen is the only biotracer, which is yet to be found on a planet outside of the solar system.