The hype around NASA's announcement this morning is not that exciting after all according to one space expert.

A press conference was held earlier this morning to present new findings from its Rover Curiosity.

The space agency was able to confirm it had discovered organic matter preserved on the red planet, which is suggests the planet once was rich in carbon based compounds, which is essential to life.

However, Stardome educator Josh Kirkley told Mike Hosking what they have found is definitely not life.

"We need to find something living an actual organism, so just finding organic molecules is not really proof of life, it is evidence because organic molecules come from living things but for us to actually find an organism or something living."

The organic matter preserved on the red planet suggests ancient life on the planet, however, there isn't any hard evidence of living organisms on the planet anymore.

Kirkley says if Mars is not liveable, that doesn't mean other places in our solar system won't be.

"But yeah so far Mars is quite tantalising because we knew it had oceans and water which as we know from earth life, the key to life is water."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JOSH KIRKLEY TALKS TO MIKE HOSKING