Star study raises prospects of water-rich planets

Find revealed that the quantity of water found on Earth is not unique

Large amounts of water may exist on numerous deep space bodies, said a study yesterday that raises the theoretical odds of another planet like Earth sporting the life-giving resource.

The findings, published by the Royal Astronomical Society, are based on the discovery of “a large quantity” of hydrogen and oxygen, the two chemical ingredients of water, in the atmosphere of a white dwarf star.

The find, based on observations by the William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands, revealed that the quantity of water found on Earth is not unique, said a statement by Britain’s University of Warwick. “Water delivery via asteroids or comets is likely taking place in many other planetary systems, just as it happened on Earth,” it said.

“The research findings add further support to the possibility water can be delivered to Earthlike planets via such bodies [as asteroids and comets] to create a suitable environment for the formation of life.”

The latest findings support the widely-held view that Earth’s oceans were created through impacts by water-rich comets or asteroids, said lead researcher Roberto Raddi.

The white dwarf, an ageing star in decline, had once held water equivalent to about 30-35 per cent of that found in Earth’s oceans, probably delivered in an asteroid impact.

“Our research has found that, rather than being unique, waterrich asteroids similar to those found in our solar system appear to be frequent,” said Raddi.

Last December, researchers said readings taken by Europe’s comet orbiter Rosetta suggested water on Earth was more likely to have come from asteroids that slammed into the planet billions of years ago, than from comets.