News Astronomy

Molecular oxygen has been spotted beyond the Milky Way for the first time

The elusive molecule turned up in a quasar more than half a billion light-years from Earth

Quasar Markarian 231

Astronomers finally found molecular oxygen beyond the Milky Way, but they had to look at a galaxy far, far away: the quasar Markarian 231, shown here in an image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (UVA/NRAO/Stony Brook Uni.)

By Ken Croswell

- More than 2 years ago

For the first time, astronomers have found molecular oxygen — the same gas humans need to breathe — in a galaxy outside the Milky Way.