Comet C / 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) throws into space sugar and alcohol in large quantities. These conclusions were French astronomers first detected the presence of ethyl alcohol in comets. This was reported in the journal Science Advances.
«We found that Comet Lovejoy every second allocates the same amount of alcohol as there are 500 bottles of wine – at least during the peak periods of his activity,” – said Nicolas Bive (Nicolas Biver), employee of the Paris Observatory.
The researchers came to this conclusion by measuring the glow of the comet in the microwave range – using tridtsatimetrovoy radiotelescope IRAM, located in the Sierra Nevada (Spain). Sunlight causes the molecules in the atmosphere of the comet to shine in certain microwave frequencies. Each type of molecule corresponds to the characteristic type of radiation detectors is determined telescope. The observations were made 13-26 January 2015, when the comet was as close as the Earth.
In total, scientists have found in the gas of the comet Lovejoy 21 types of different organic molecules, including ethyl alcohol and glycolaldehyde (simple aldosahar). Astronomers assume that these molecules could be part of the solids from which planets are formed.
Comets are relics of the first epoch of the solar system. Most of these celestial bodies are on the far periphery of it. Sometimes when approaching the sun, they heat up and emit gases that enables scientists to get an idea about their chemical composition.
«The presence of complex organic molecules in the comet tells us about the conditions that have taken place in the world in the era of the emergence of life. Perhaps this has happened with the help of comets, “- said co-author Dominick Bokel-Morvan (Dominique Bockelée-Morvan). Then the scientists need to understand if there was a giant comet organics from interstellar molecular clouds (which evolved into the solar system), or even from the protoplanetary disk around the young sun.
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