Yes, water is likely older than the Sun.
Evidence Suggests Ancient Water
Scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that the water in our solar system is far older than the sun itself.
Water in Protostar V883 Orionis
- Researchers studied the water surrounding the protostar V883 Orionis, located about 1,305 light-years away.
- They found a "probable link" between the water present in the interstellar medium (the space between star systems) and the water found in our solar system.
- This connection implies that the water didn't form alongside our sun but existed before it.
Implications
This discovery indicates that:
- The water we have on Earth might be billions of years older than our sun.
- Water may be a common component of star systems, pre-dating the formation of stars themselves.
| Aspect | Observation |
|---|---|
| Source of Water | Interstellar medium, not from the Sun's formation |
| Age of Water | Billions of years older than the Sun |
| Location Observed | Protostar V883 Orionis and by inference, our solar system |
Understanding the Timeline
The reference indicates that the water did not form during the creation of the solar system. Rather, it was already present in the interstellar medium. The sun formed later from the collapse of gas and dust, some of which contained pre-existing water molecules. The link discovered between the water surrounding V883 Orionis and water in our solar system gives strong indications that we have some of the same old water.
This insight changes our understanding of solar system formation, showing that the building blocks, like water, can exist long before the stars themselves.
