Oxygen Ratios-Comparison
January 10, 2013
Graphic of the neon to oxygen ratio in the neutral gas of the local cloud, as obtained with IBEX, in comparison with the ratio for the Sun and the Milky Way galaxy. There is much less oxygen in the gas of the local cloud, which presents an interesting puzzle to astronomers. Is a substantial portion of the essential ingredient for life (oxygen) locked up in interstellar dust, or does this tell us how different the conditions our immediate neighborhood are than at the birthplace of the Sun? Credit: NASA/Goddard
Topics:
Space, Chemistry, Astronomy, Cosmic dust, Interstellar Boundary Explorer, Sun, Milky Way, Space dust, Chemical elements, Astrochemistry, Astronomical objects, Galactic astronomy
