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Hubble Finds Building Block of Life on an Extrasolar Planet

The search for life outside of our solar system takes another important step. Detecting an organic molecule in an extrasolar, or XO, planet means that the building blocks of life do exist elsewhere in the universe. Researchers can't be sure how the methane ended up in the planet's atmosphere, but they are confident no life exists on this very hot planet.
  • Release Date
    March 19, 2008
  • Science Release
    Hubble Finds First Organic Molecule on an Exoplanet
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, and M. Estacion (STScI)

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Related Images & Videos

Artist's View of Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b

Artist's View of Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b

This illustration depicts the extrasolar planet HD 189733b with its parent star peeking above its top edge. Astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to detect methane and water vapor in the Jupiter-size planet's atmosphere. They made the finding by studying how light from the...

Methane Absorption by the Atmosphere of Extrasolar Planet 189733b

Methane Absorption by the Atmosphere of Extrasolar Planet 189733b

Methane Absorption Spectrum

Methane Absorption Spectrum

Location of Star HD 189733 on the Sky

Location of Star HD 189733 on the Sky

Location of Star HD 189733 on the Sky (Digitized Sky Survey)

Location of Star HD 189733 on the Sky (Digitized Sky Survey)

Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b Zoom-In (Annotated)

Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b Zoom-In (Annotated)

Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b Zoom-In

Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b Zoom-In

Extrasolar Planet Transit

Extrasolar Planet Transit

Prism Animation

Prism Animation

Spectroscopy splits light into its components to reveal the "fingerprints" of various chemicals. Extensive observations were made with Hubble's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) as planet HD 189733b passed in front of its parent star in what astronomers...

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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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