Water in Galaxies

Carbon and Goorvitch have computed synthetic sunspot spectra using a H2O line list and the sunspot umbral models of Maltby et al. (1986) [214], 

The abundance of water in sunspots and stars is reviewed shortly by Bernath, 2002 [24]. Sonnabend et al., 2006 [312] made ultra-high-resolution spectroscopic measurements with a resolution of 10 of water vapor and silicon monoxide in sunspots. Their observations were performed using the Cologne Tunable Heterodyne Infrared Spectrometer (THIS) at the McMath Pierce Solar Observatory. Mid-infrared molecular absorption lines around 10 pm were recorded and resolved in full detail. 

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A drop of water contains an unimaginable number of molecules, as our molecular inset shows. Water is essential to life as we know it. The simple yet unusual fact that solid water (ice) floats atop liquid water allows life to exist on our planet. Just as important is the fact that water dissolves an immense range of chemical compounds Water is the solvent of life. In fact, water is so important to our perspective of life that the search for water is a key feature of our quest to discover life in other quarters of the galaxy. The inset photo of the surface of Mars, for example, shows no sign of water at present, but some erosional features appear to have been caused by flowing water in the past. 

Water masers are also found in galaxies and star forming galaxies. 

Water is one of the basic elements for life. It is even assumed that the evolution of life is only possible if there is liquid water present. A water molecule has some remarkable properties that make it quite unique in the universe. In the first chapter of this book we will review these basic properties of water and the role of water on Earth. All ancient civilizations realized the importance of water and their cities were constructed near great reservoirs of water. But is water unique on Earth Do we find water elsewhere in the solar system, on extrasolar planetary systems or in distant galaxies We will start the search for the presence of extraterrestrial water in our solar system. Surprisingly enough it seems that water in some form and sometimes in only minute quantities is found on any object in the solar system. Even on the planet nearest to the Sun, Mercury, there may be some water in the form of ice near its poles where never the light of Sun heats the surface. And there are objects in the solar system that are made up of a large quantity of water in terms of their mass, like comets and several satellites of the giant planets. 

Water has been detected almost everywhere on extreme and exotic places in the universe in 5000 K hot sunspots as well as in cold molecular interstellar clouds. Extreme bright sources can be explained by a MASER mechanism that is based on water molecules. They indicate regions where stars are formed and they can be even detected in galaxies that are at a distance of several 100 million light years. 

The entire universe is made up of matter, from the vast reaches of the galaxies to a simple glass of water. As we describe in the coming chapters, matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms. On Earth there are around 100 different kinds of atoms, each kind with its own unique combination of properties. The complexity of our world arises from the unlimited number of ways that atoms can combine to form different molecules. The principles of modem chemistry are organized around the molecular nature of matter. Our book presents this perspective while at the same time emphasizing the quantitative aspects of chemistry. 

J In outer space, frozen water, or ice, has been found on the moon, on planets— particularly Mercury, Mars, Neptune, and Pluto—and in comets and clouds between stars in our galaxy. Recent explorations of Mars indicate that there may be liquid water underground on Mars.This means there could be microorganisms living there ... 

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