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Astronomers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) using the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) William Herschel Telescope (WHT) and the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) in La Palma, Canary Islands just released a report about the transmission spectrum used to gather information about a planet's atmospheric constituents. The chemical composition data will enable the detection of life forms and habitable planets.

STFC's William Herschel Telescope (WHT) Credit: world-traveller

"Now we know what the transmission spectrum of a inhabited planet looks like, we have a much better idea of how to find and recognize Earth like planets outside our solar system where life may be thriving. The information in this spectrum shows us that this is a very effective way to gather information about the biological processes that may be taking place on a planet," said Enric Palle of the IAC.

• The Search For ET Just Got Easier, SpaceDaily, June 12, 2009