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Chemistry in Space
Like we always say, matter is everywhere. So, wherever matter is changing, chemists won't be far behind! It's here on Earth, on the Moon, on Mars... anywhere! While you, the chemist, sit here on Earth, you don't have to study the chemistry of Earth. You could work with astronomers and geologists to study the chemistry of other planets and stars.
You would not just study the surface of other planets. There are as many things to study on each planet we discover as there are on Earth. Examples... - Chemistry of atmospheres - Chemistry and elemental makeup of stars - Chemistry and elemental makeup of asteroids (those are easier to study because they come close to Earth) - Anything that might be on another body in the Universe A Good Example from Mars
For thousands of years, Mars looked reddish when viewed from Earth through telescopes. That's simple enough. But why? One day we sent a probe to Mars that took a close-up look at the rocks and dust that cover the planet. Scientists figured out from samples that the rocks and dust have a high level of iron (Fe). When the iron oxidizes with any trace oxygen (O) in the atmosphere, it turns red. Voila! You now know some of the chemistry of Martian rocks.
Recently, scientists have determined that water once existed on Mars. They had to get probes on the surface of the planet and study the rocks and elements found on the Martian surface. (When you are in the place you are studying, it is called "in situ" investigation. When you observe from a distance, you are studying remotely.) Scientists even believe that there still might be a frozen layer of water (H2O) beneath the surface of Mars. Every probe we send to the planet gives us a huge amount of information and knowledge about chemistry on other planets! It wasn't only a chemist who figured this out. Chemists usually work with astronomers, astrophysicists, and geologists when studying other planets. They all work together as a team and explore using probes and satellites. Don't forget the engineers that have to design new materials and equipment for each probe. There are so many things you can do with chemistry. Organic Chemistry in Space
You don't always have to send a probe. If you're thinking you can escape the clutches of organic chemistry by just using a telescope, you're wrong. Astronomers at NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have detected organic compounds in very young galaxies. They found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (it's a big phrase for us too), which are ringed molecules made of hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) in various arrangements.
How'd they do it? They used an instrument called an infrared spectrometer to split up the infrared light that Spitzer detects. When they split up the light, they found peaks in specific wavelengths that told them organic molecules were present. Peaks at specific wavelengths act like fingerprints and tell scientists the type of molecules present. The most amazing fact (it's amazing to us) is that they were studying galaxies that are 10 billion light years away. 
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