Astronomy
The European Space Agency's [ESA] Rosetta spacecraft has detected significant levels of molecular oxygen coming from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in a discovery that has taken astronomers by surprise.
Molecular oxygen has never been detected on a comet before, although it has been observed in the atmospheres of icy moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter. The discovery, may provide new clues about the conditions and environment where the Earth, Sun and solar system were born 4.6 billion years ago.
From September 2014 to March 2015, as 67P made its way closer to the Sun, researchers used a mass spectrometer on Rosetta to find out the molecules swirling around the comet and identify their chemical composition. They found on average that oxygen makes up 3.8% of the cloud relative to the most abundant substance, water.
It was not immediately clear where the oxygen came from. The researchers discovered that water and oxygen were often found together, an indication that similar processes could released both molecules.
article reference:- nature.com
- Water Molecules On Lunar Surface
NASA scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the moon. Water molecules are greater than predicted , but still relatively small. Hydroxyl, a molecule consisting of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom, also was found in the...
- Rosetta's Closeup With Asteroid Lutetia
Asteroid Lutetia, captured by Rosetta Image: ESA ESA?s Rosetta mission successfully completed a flyby of asteroid Lutetia on July 10, capturing spectacular images of a remnant from the solar system?s creation. The spacecraft came as close as 3162 km,...
- Rosetta Captures Stunning Picture Of The Earth
ESA's Rosetta spacecraft, as it is conducting its final flyby of the Earth, captured a very stunning picture of the planet, showing an illuminated crescent. The image was made by combining images taken through the orange, green, and blue filters by...
- The Rosetta Selfie.
The Rosetta spacecraft managed to take this picture before making history.A camera aboard ESA?s Philae lander snapped this 'Selfie' of one of the Rosetta's 52-foot-long [16-meter] solar arrays, with comet 67P/Churyumov?Gerasimenko hovering...
- Nasa Finds Large Amount Of Hydrogen On Moon.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [LRO] spacecraft has recently discovered more hydrogen on Moon 's pole-facing slopes. The recent discovery of hydrogen-bearing molecules, possibly including water, on the moon has made explorers excited because...
Astronomy
Rosetta have found Oxygen on Comet 67P.
Molecular oxygen has never been detected on a comet before, although it has been observed in the atmospheres of icy moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter. The discovery, may provide new clues about the conditions and environment where the Earth, Sun and solar system were born 4.6 billion years ago.
From September 2014 to March 2015, as 67P made its way closer to the Sun, researchers used a mass spectrometer on Rosetta to find out the molecules swirling around the comet and identify their chemical composition. They found on average that oxygen makes up 3.8% of the cloud relative to the most abundant substance, water.
It was not immediately clear where the oxygen came from. The researchers discovered that water and oxygen were often found together, an indication that similar processes could released both molecules.
The Rosetta space probe has been studying the comet for over a year and has detected an abundance of different gases pouring from its nucleus. Water vapour, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are the most prolific, with a rich array of other nitrogen, sulphur and carbon bearing species.
article reference:- nature.com
- Water Molecules On Lunar Surface
NASA scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the moon. Water molecules are greater than predicted , but still relatively small. Hydroxyl, a molecule consisting of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom, also was found in the...
- Rosetta's Closeup With Asteroid Lutetia
Asteroid Lutetia, captured by Rosetta Image: ESA ESA?s Rosetta mission successfully completed a flyby of asteroid Lutetia on July 10, capturing spectacular images of a remnant from the solar system?s creation. The spacecraft came as close as 3162 km,...
- Rosetta Captures Stunning Picture Of The Earth
ESA's Rosetta spacecraft, as it is conducting its final flyby of the Earth, captured a very stunning picture of the planet, showing an illuminated crescent. The image was made by combining images taken through the orange, green, and blue filters by...
- The Rosetta Selfie.
The Rosetta spacecraft managed to take this picture before making history.A camera aboard ESA?s Philae lander snapped this 'Selfie' of one of the Rosetta's 52-foot-long [16-meter] solar arrays, with comet 67P/Churyumov?Gerasimenko hovering...
- Nasa Finds Large Amount Of Hydrogen On Moon.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [LRO] spacecraft has recently discovered more hydrogen on Moon 's pole-facing slopes. The recent discovery of hydrogen-bearing molecules, possibly including water, on the moon has made explorers excited because...