Hubble has detected for the first time an organic molecule, methane within the atmosphere of a large Jupiter-like planet 63 light years away. The planet HD 189744b is 15% larger than Jupiter and orbits close to a yellow dwarf star HD 189733 A, and a complete rotation around the star takes 2.2 Earth-days.
The atmospheric temperature of the exoplanet is 700 degrees Celsius (1260 degrees Fahrenheit). This discovery demonstrates the ability to detect organic molecules on exoplanets spectroscopically.
In the future the same method will be used to search organic molecules on Earth-like planets and help the search for life.
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