Comments on: Atmosphere of an Extrasolar Planet Measured http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/ Space and astronomy news Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:17:24 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: scottie 5000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 scottie 5000 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:33:20 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-2401 Does anyone know why we have to always asume life needs oxygen? There could be life on Mars but we negelect to think outside the box. Here's to finding life we don't understand! Celancha!! Does anyone know why we have to always asume life needs oxygen? There could be life on Mars but we negelect to think outside the box. Here's to finding life we don't understand!

Celancha!!

]]> By: Phil Plait http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-2312 Phil Plait Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:42:03 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-2312 The paper is online on Astro-PH at http://arxiv.org/pdf/0712.0761 They detected sodium absorption in the planet's atmosphere. I was curious about the press release; they said they divided the out-of-transit data by the in-transit data, but that won't do it! But in the paper itself it says how they really did it (you have to do (in-out)/out) ). The paper is online on Astro-PH at http://arxiv.org/pdf/0712.0761

They detected sodium absorption in the planet's atmosphere. I was curious about the press release; they said they divided the out-of-transit data by the in-transit data, but that won't do it! But in the paper itself it says how they really did it (you have to do (in-out)/out) ).

]]> By: Carl Grillmair http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1843 Carl Grillmair Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:25:45 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1843 For both HD 209458b and HD 189733b, the Spitzer spectra appear to resemble blackbodies, with no obvious indications of water. This is rather surprising since most models of hot Jupiters predict a strong signature of water absorption. There are a number of possible explanations, including the sequestration of the water beneath cloud layers, or isothermal temperature profiles in the upper atmospheres. On the other hand, broad band measurements with the Spitzer IRAC camera during primary eclipse of HD 189733b may indicate that water is indeed present. Spitzer is currently making new spectral observations of both planets, with higher signal-to-noise ratios and extended wavelength coverage. The first lot of new data look very interesting but we have a lot of analysis ahead of us before we can make definitive statements. Stay tuned... Cheers, Carl For both HD 209458b and HD 189733b, the Spitzer spectra appear to resemble blackbodies, with no obvious indications of water. This is rather surprising since most models of hot Jupiters predict a strong signature of water absorption. There are a number of possible explanations, including the sequestration of the water beneath cloud layers, or isothermal temperature profiles in the upper atmospheres. On the other hand, broad band measurements with the Spitzer IRAC camera during primary eclipse of HD 189733b may indicate that water is indeed present. Spitzer is currently making new spectral observations of both planets, with higher signal-to-noise ratios and extended wavelength coverage. The first lot of new data look very interesting but we have a lot of analysis ahead of us before we can make definitive statements. Stay tuned…

Cheers,
Carl

]]> By: Kyle http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1808 Kyle Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:43:50 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1808 I wonder how many other objects blocked the light; changing the spectrum of the light traveling from the star or gravitational pulls. Too bad we couldn't put a satellite far out in our own solar system to test this process further against our own planet. Very interesting though, probably at this stage only good for larger than Jupiter planets. I wonder how many other objects blocked the light; changing the spectrum of the light traveling from the star or gravitational pulls.

Too bad we couldn't put a satellite far out in our own solar system to test this process further against our own planet.

Very interesting though, probably at this stage only good for larger than Jupiter planets.

]]> By: Scott Nash http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1806 Scott Nash Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:29:09 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1806 Well? They had the spectrum: what was the atmosphere composed of? Well? They had the spectrum: what was the atmosphere composed of?

]]> By: Jay http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1805 Jay Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:27:08 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1805 What was the planet like? What did the data show? What was the planet like? What did the data show?

]]> By: Carl Grillmair http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1749 Carl Grillmair Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:02:52 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1749 Note that, contrary to your assertion above, spectra of the atmospheres of both HD 209458b and HD 189733b have been obtained several times by the Spitzer Space Telescope. See Richardson et al. 2007, Grillmair et al. 2007, Swain et al. 2008, Tinetti et al. 2007, and others... Note that, contrary to your assertion above, spectra of the atmospheres of both HD 209458b and HD 189733b have been obtained several times by the Spitzer Space Telescope. See Richardson et al. 2007, Grillmair et al. 2007, Swain et al. 2008, Tinetti et al. 2007, and others…

]]> By: Trevor Sproston http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1737 Trevor Sproston Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:43:29 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1737 Any actual data? Any actual data?

]]> By: Qaiss http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/comment-page-1/#comment-1664 Qaiss Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:42:29 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/05/atmosphere-of-an-extrasolar-planet-measured/#comment-1664 I truly believe that one day such hard working astronomers will find an earth like planet. I truly believe that one day such hard working astronomers will find an earth like planet.

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