Researchers have discovered a planet that is surrounded with methane gas and is 100 light years away from earth, according to Press Examiner.
The new planet, named 51 Eribani b, is roughly twice the mass of Jupiter and its atmosphere holds water vapor.
It is the first first alien world discovered using the Gemini Planet Imager.
According to Press Examiner, University of Arizona planetary scientist Travis Barman said in a statement, "51 Eri b is the first young planet that probably looks like Jupiter did billions of years ago, making it now our most important cornerpiece of the planet-formation jigsaw puzzle."
Stanimir Metchev, a Physics & Astronomy Professor at Western University in Canada and at Stony Brook University, along with Rahul I. Patel, a PhD student in Stony Brook's Department of Physics & Astronomy are co-investigators on the study.
"51 Eri b supplies a chance to review... In the atmospheres of the cold giant planets of our solar system, carbon is found as methane, unlike most exo planets, where carbon has mostly been found in the form of carbon monoxide", NASA AMES astrophysicist Mark Marley told iO9.
This planet's star is an estimated 20 million years old. Scientists speculated that the temperature of the planet when it was formed was probably around 2000 degrees. Right now, the temperature is about 400 degrees Celsius and by the time it reaches Jupiter's age, it's temperature will be around minus 150 degrees. Los Angeles times reports.
The scientists were also able to pick the infrared light of the planet since the planet was still glowing.
