Dwarf star explains water origins
11 Jun 2015 by Evoluted New Media
By using data from a dwarf star, scientists found evidence that water could be delivered to Earth-like planets via asteroids and comets.
A research team at the University of Warwick used data from the William Herschel Telescope to discover that a water-rich asteroid impact could lead to the mixture of the hydrogen and oxygen present in the atmosphere of a dwarf star or a planet.
Research leader Dr Roberto Raddi at the University of Warwick said: “Our research has found that, rather than being unique, water-rich asteroids similar to those found in our Solar System appear to be frequent. Accordingly, many planets may have contained a volume of water, comparable to that contained in the Earth.”
In a study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the team observed a white dwarf star called SDSS J1242+5226. By measuring the chemical composition of the star’s atmosphere the team found large amounts of oxygen and hydrogen. The amount of water was estimated to be 30-35% of the oceans on Earth.
The scientists believe that this quantity of hydrogen and oxygen provide evidence that a water-rich exo-asteroid delivered the water onto the star. They also suggest a similar mechanism for the origins of water on Earth.
“It is believed that the Earth was initially dry, but our research strongly supports the view that the oceans we have today were created as a result of impacts by water-rich comets or asteroids,” said Dr Raddi.
