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How they detect water remotely on exoplanets is changing, also.
One method used (in 2008), for HD 189733b used emitted infrared light, as opposed to light absorbed from the parent star. They had to look at about 10 revolutions of the planet, comparing the light when it was in front of the star, to when it was behind it and subtracting the two figures to get the emitted light .. One revolution wasn't enough to confirm the 6.2 micron vibrational mode (expected in a hot giant) .. it took 10 observations to confirm it.
There was quite a lot of controversy about the original detection .. ie: it was disputed until they finally resolved it all, using the method above.
Interesting.
Cheers
Last edited by CraigS; 12-02-2011 at 04:40 PM.
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