Hubble image archive
Artist's View of Exoplanet Orbiting the Star HD 189733
This is an artist's impression of the Jupiter-size extrasolar planet, HD 189733b, being eclipsed by its parent star. Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have measured carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the planet's atmosphere. The planet is a "hot Jupiter," which is s...
- Date
- Jan 1, 2008
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-2008-41-2438-image
This is an artist's impression of the Jupiter-size extrasolar planet, HD 189733b, being eclipsed by its parent star. Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have measured carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the planet's atmosphere. The planet is a "hot Jupiter," which is so close to its star that it completes an orbit in only 2.2 days.
This type of observation is best done when the planet's orbit carries it behind the star (as seen from Earth), which allows an opportunity to subtract the light of the star alone (when the planet is blocked) from that of the star and planet together prior to eclipse. This allows astronomers to isolate the infrared emission of the planet and make spectroscopic observations that chemically analyze the day-side atmosphere.
The planet is too hot for life as we know it. But under the right conditions, on a more Earth-like world, carbon dioxide can indicate the presence of extraterrestrial life. This observation demonstrates that chemical biotracers can be detected by space telescope observations.
Credits
ESA, NASA, M. Kornmesser (ESA/Hubble), and STScIImage Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | HD 189733b |
| Object Description | Transiting Hot-Jupiter Exoplanet |
| R.A. Position | 20h 00m 43s.71 |
| Dec. Position | +22° 42' 39".07 |
| Constellation | Vulpecula |
| Distance | 63 light-years (19 parsecs) |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | This science result was from HST data from proposal : M. Swain (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and D. Deming (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center). The science team includes: M. Swain, G. Vasisht , and P. Chen (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory), G. Tinetti (University College London), J. Bouwman (Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg), Y. Yung (California Institute of Technology), and D. Deming (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center). |
| Instrument | HST>NICMOS |
| Exposure Dates | April 29/30, 2007, Exposure Time: 324 seconds |
| Filters | G206 (1.4-2.5 microns) |
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Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
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