Astronomers have finally discovered a potentially habitable planet after detecting water vapor on an exoplanet 122 light years from Earth.

Hat-P-11b is apparently a "small" planet but unlike others that possess a thick cloud blanket that precludes atmospheric analysis, this planet has uncannily clear weather that made water vapor measurements possible.

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Detecting water vapor on a planet is truly pivotal in the search for life beyond the solar system. Its presence signifies a more habitable environment where life might flourish.

Astronomers describe the planet as similar to Neptune but five times larger than the Earth. Unfortunately, Hat-P-11b is sweltering hot as the planet's temperature reaches up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit due to its close proximity to its sun.

This means its life sustaining ability can be close to nil, yet water vapor still exists in its atmosphere.

According to Knicole Colon, an astronomer from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, the search for smaller planets can lead to studying them further especially if they are similar to Earth if astronomers reach a suitable observing technique.

The method astronomers currently use to detect water vapor on a planet is called "transiting." When a planet is in a most strategic place nearest its star, the planet emits a light like a halo.

This light is then measured by a spectrometer that detects certain signatures indicating the presence of water vapor on the planet.

This particular method is often used with larger planets. It usually yields positive results but unfortunately, this method doesn't work well with smaller planets since these planets usually have very cloudy atmospheres shrouding them.

With the help of two powerful telescopes, the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, astronomers detected Hat-P-11b's water vapors in the planet's atmosphere.

This could herald the discovery of more similar Earth-like planets that possess clearer skies and weather.

TagsNASA Telescopes Find Water on Exoplanet 122 Light Years Away, NASA, hubble telescope, spitzer space telescope, exoplanet, life on other planets, water vapor clear skies planet neptune, planets with water, hat-p-11b planet