NASA's Hubble Telescope uses moon as mirror to search for signs of extraterrestrial life

NASA astromers used moon as a mirror to study earth during a total lunar eclipse in search of signs of life on exoplanets.  US ncy informed that scientists used Hubble Telescope and detected earth's own brand of sunscreen -- ozone -- in atmosphere.

NASA said, "This method simulates how astromers and astrobiology researchers will search for evidence of life beyond Earth by observing potential "biosignatures" on exoplanets (planets around or stars)". 

While a number of similar observations have already been done previously, NASA informed that this is first time a total lunar eclipse was captured at ultraviolet wavelengths and from a telescope. US ncy said that Hubble detected strong spectral fingerprint of ozone, which absorbs some of sunlight. 

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scientists ted that ozone is important to life because it is source of protective shield in earth’s atmosphere. y furr said that on earth, photosynsis over billions of years is responsible for our planet's high oxygen levels and thick ozone layer which is why ozone or oxygen could be a sign of life on ar planet. 

Allison Youngblood of Laboratory for Atmospheric and Physics in Boulder and lead researcher of Hubble’s observation explained, “Finding ozone is significant because it is a photochemical byproduct of molecular oxygen, which is itself a byproduct of life”. 

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Strongest detection till date 

recent study is believed to have helped researchers shape ir search for signs of life around exoplanets. Hubble Telescope recorded ozone absorbing some of sun's ultraviolet radiation that passed through edge of earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse that occurred on January 20 to 21, 2019. scientists said that recent study represents strongest detection of molecule to date. 

Youngblood said, “One of NASA's major goals is to identify planets that could support life. But how would we kw a habitable or an uninhabited planet if we saw one? What would y look like with techniques that astromers have at ir disposal for characterizing atmospheres of exoplanets? That's why it's important to develop models of Earth's spectrum as a template for categorizing atmospheres on extrasolar planets”. 

(Im: NASA/Website)

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