Space & Astronomy

Water likely to be common on other planets

By T.K. Randall
May 8, 2015 ·  7 comments

Asteroids and comets can deposit water on the surface of planets. Image Credit: NASA/JPL Most of the water on the Earth is believed to have been delivered here by asteroids during the earliest days of the solar system, a process that could have easily been repeated on other worlds.

Evidence of this was found in a recent study in which scientists discovered heavy elements such as oxygen, magnesium, silicon and iron in the atmosphere of a distant white dwarf star, a clear indication of a collision with a water-rich asteroid. "Our research has found that, rather than being unique, water-rich asteroids similar to those found in our Solar System appear to be frequent," said lead researcher Dr. Roberto Raddi. "Accordingly, many planets may have contained a volume of water, comparable to that contained in the Earth."

Finding one of these water-rich, Earth-like worlds however is likely to prove extremely challenging.

Source: Independent | Comments (7)

Tags: Water, Asteroid, Extrasolar