News Planetary Science

Oxygen leaking from comet surprises astronomers

Rosetta detects O2 molecules, probably from solar system’s birth, on 67P

rosetta

SPACE SURPRISE  Some of the gas streaming from comet 67P, seen in this September 11 picture from Rosetta, contains oxygen molecules trapped since the beginning of the solar system. 

NAVCAM/Rosetta/ESA (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0)

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

A comet is leaking oxygen molecules that have been buried since the beginning of the solar system.