Exploration
of the universe is advancing at a phenomenal rate. This week, astronomers
using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have discovered and directly
measured the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a star outside our solar system.
Its parent star, known as HD209458, is 150 light years from earth in the
autumn constellation Pegasus [1]. In
a very creative approach, the scientists aimed HST at the star to capture
information from the planet as it passed in front of HD209458. Using
the HST's Imaging Spectrograph, direct measurements were made of sodium
in the planet's atmosphere by examining the light waves that passed through
the protective layer.
It
was only 10 years ago that planets outside our solar system, while believed
to exist, were still unproved. In 1999, scientists discovered a slight
gravitational pull on HD209458, indicating an orbiting planet may be present.
Two years later, we are measuring the chemical components of the planet's
atmosphere! While it is unlikely that any life exists on the planet
because it is so close to the star (4 million miles resulting in temperatures
of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit), its discovery opens a new chapter in man's
quest to find other life in the universe.
How is this important to the Ethical Atheist?
First, we are constantly striving to enhance our scientific knowledge of the universe. And, second, this is a truly phenomenal discovery and another crushing blow to the religious teachings of the church. Recall that biblical myths tell us we are the only life in the universe; the earth is flat; the stars are fixed in the "firmament" and other such earth-centric drivel (see "Science, Truth and the Church"). If an extremely close neighboring star has a planet with an atmosphere... it significantly increases the probabilities that life exists elsewhere in the universe. How much longer until we finally rid ourselves of the religious beast that haunts us? Who knows?! One of our country's most important founders and president, John Adams, stated in a July 16, 1814 letter to Thomas Jefferson:
"Cabalistic Christianity, which is Catholic Christianity, and which has prevailed for 1,500 years, has received a mortal wound, of which the monster must finally die. Yet so strong is his constitution, that he may endure for centuries before he expires." [4]
References:
1. "Hubble Space Telescope News", article "Hubble Makes First Direct Measurements of Atmosphere on World Around Another Star" 11/27/2001, Space Telescope Science Institute.
2. Illustration #1 Credit: G. Bacon (STScI/AVL)
3. Illustration #2 Credit Hubble Site
4. 2000 Years of Disbelief, 1996, by James A. Haught, p. 82, John Adams quoted in letter to Thomas Jefferson, July 16, 1814.