Herschel detects oxygen molecules

The key elements that support the development of life are not exclusively found on our good old planet Earth. The observations of the Herschel Space Observatory telescope have confirmed it. Recently, Herschel detected water vapour in astronomical quantities, a fitting adjective here, in a supermassive black hole.

Following in the wake of water, oxygen! NASA scientists have announced that Herschel has observed oxygen molecules at the very heart of the Orion nebula. Although simple atoms of this element can be found in large quantities in the universe, O2 molecules have never yet been discovered. Astronomers are fully expecting to find more and are concentrating on the star-forming regions with this endeavour in mind.Provided by YC/ATC-TCL.com