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August 1, 2011

Oxygen Molecules Discovered in Deep Space for First Time

Astronomers can finally breathe a sigh of relief: A team of scientists has discovered the first oxygen molecules in deep space, capping a nearly 230-year search for the elusive cosmic molecule.

The oxygen molecules were detected in a star-forming region of the Orion nebula, roughly 1,500 light-years from Earth, by the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory. The observatory used its large telescope and infrared detectors to hone in on the species, which is thought to be common in the cosmos, but has so far been hard to find.

Oxygen Molecules Discovered in Deep Space for First Time | Herschel Space Observatory & Infrared Astronomy | Orion Nebula & Space Images | Space.com

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