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    Question

    Scientists using NASA telescopes have detected “a

    strong water signature” in the atmosphere of a distant Neptune-sized planet, which could help understand more about the birth and development of planetary systems. The study, combining observations from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, shows that the distant planet HAT-P-26b has a primitive atmosphere composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium .Located about 437 light years away, HAT-P-26b orbits a star roughly twice as old as our Sun. The analysis is one of the most detailed studies to date of a “warm Neptune,” or a planet that is Neptune-sized and close to its star.The researchers determined that HAT-P-26b’s atmosphere is relatively clear of clouds and has a strong water signature, although the planet is not a water world. A paragraph has been provided. From the options given below, choose the sentence that continues the paragraph in the most appropriate way.
    A Researchers pooled data from four transits measured by Hubble and two seen by Spitzer. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B Astronomers have just begun to investigate the atmospheres of these distant Neptune-mass planets, and almost right away, we found an example that goes against the trend in our solar system,” said Hannah Wakeford, a post-doctoral researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in the U.S. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C This is the best measurement of water to date on an exoplanet of this size. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Compared to Neptune and Uranus, the planets in our solar system with about the same mass, HAT-P-26b likely formed either closer to its host star or later in the development of its planetary system, or both Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E By looking at how the signatures of the starlight change as a result of this filtering, researchers can work backward to figure out the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The correct answer is C

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