Elusive oxygen molecule finally discovered in interstellar space

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The constellation of Ophiuchus hosts dense molecular clouds in the Milky Way at a distance of about 500 light years where new stars and their planets are currently born. The Odin satellite has received a signal from this direction indicating for the ...
The constellation of Ophiuchus hosts dense molecular clouds in the Milky Way at a distance of about 500 light years, where new stars and their planets are currently born. The Odin satellite has received a signal from this direction, indicating for the first time the presence of molecular oxygen (O2) in such clouds. (Background Picture: Alex Mellinger)

Molecular oxygen has finally been discovered in interstellar space. The result is important for understanding the chemistry in large interstellar clouds where new stars are formed, and the processes behind star formation.


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