Astronomers have discovered a large water content in the atmosphere of extrasolar planets the size of Neptune located far outside the Solar System. This is one of those extremely rare occasions when scientists were able to determine the presence of water in the atmosphere of extrasolar planets of similar size and mass. This discovery will help in further studies of the formation process of such planets.
A planet called HAT-P-26b was first discovered in 2011. It revolves around the star HAT-P-26 in the Constellation Virgo at a distance of about 437 light-years from Earth. HAT-P-26b is also called “warm Neptune” due to its size and proximity to a star.
She was seen due to the fact that from time to time passes between its star and the Earth in its orbit. During these passages the planet enough to mute the light of the star so it could be seen from Earth.
Using the space telescope “Hubble”, scientists have studied the light of stars within four passages of HAT-P-26b and were able to calculate the amount of water in the atmosphere as molecules absorb different light. In the course of the research was confirmed by the primitive atmosphere consisting almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere is relatively clear of clouds and has a strong “water signature”. As the researchers note, this is the best measure at the moment of water on the exoplanet of this size. A study published in the journal Science.