All articles tagged with #subsurface ocean
A new study suggests Saturn's moon Titan may not have a buried ocean but instead contains widespread pockets of liquid water within a layer of ice, challenging previous assumptions about its internal structure and habitability potential.
A new analysis of data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft suggests that Saturn's moon Titan does not have a subsurface ocean of liquid water, as previously thought, but instead has a thick ice crust with a layer of slush and meltwater pockets, which could significantly alter the search for life on Titan.
Scientists have identified a large, spider-shaped surface feature on Jupiter's moon Europa, called Damhán Alla, which may indicate water erupting through the ice shell and suggest the presence of a subsurface ocean, making Europa a promising candidate for extraterrestrial life. The feature resembles Earth's lake stars and was first observed by NASA's Galileo mission, with further studies potentially revealing more about Europa's hidden water reservoirs.
Scientists have identified a spider-shaped surface feature on Europa, Jupiter's icy moon, which may indicate water erupting through its ice shell and suggest the presence of a subsurface ocean, making Europa a promising candidate for extraterrestrial life.
Europa, one of Jupiter's icy moons, has a vast subsurface ocean that could support microbial life due to its water, chemical ingredients, and energy sources, but extreme cold and radiation pose significant challenges for human survival. NASA's Europa Clipper mission aims to explore these conditions in detail by 2030.
NASA's study suggests that Ceres may have once had conditions suitable for microbial life, with a subsurface ocean enriched with chemicals and energy sources, similar to Earth's hydrothermal vents, although it is no longer habitable today.
New NASA research suggests that Ceres, the largest asteroid in the belt, may have had a long-lasting source of chemical energy in its past, potentially supporting microbial life, due to a steady supply of hot, mineral-rich water from its interior, although current conditions are too cold for habitability.
NASA research suggests that Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, may have had a long-standing internal energy source around 2.5 billion years ago, which could have supported microbial life due to the presence of water, organic molecules, and chemical energy, although it is now too cold to be habitable.
NASA's proposed Persephone mission aims to orbit Pluto for over three years to investigate its potential subsurface ocean, surface features, and atmosphere, building on insights from the 2015 New Horizons flyby. The mission faces challenges including high costs, long duration, and technological requirements, but could significantly advance understanding of Pluto's geology and its place in the Kuiper Belt.
Recent observations by the James Webb Space Telescope revealed unexpected hydrogen peroxide on Europa, prompting experiments that suggest the presence of chemical processes and potential habitability in Europa's subsurface ocean, aligning with upcoming NASA missions to explore the moon's potential for supporting life.
Recent discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and geologically active, with chaos terrains indicating ongoing processes and a hidden ocean beneath the ice that may support life, prompting further exploration by NASA's Europa Clipper mission.
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and connected to a subsurface ocean, with evidence of geologic activity, chemical signatures like sodium chloride and CO2, and potential habitability, supporting the presence of a vast liquid ocean beneath its ice shell.
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Europa's icy surface is dynamic and geologically active, with evidence suggesting a subsurface ocean nearly 30 kilometers deep. The study highlights the presence of crystalline ice, sodium chloride, CO2, and hydrogen peroxide, indicating complex chemistry and ongoing geological processes that could support habitability. These findings support the hypothesis of a liquid ocean beneath Europa's ice shell, with upcoming NASA missions like Europa Clipper set to further explore this intriguing moon.
Recent observations of Europa reveal alternating crystalline and amorphous ice forms, chemical signatures indicating material exchange with a subsurface ocean, and external influences from Jupiter's magnetic and gravitational forces, suggesting a dynamic, potentially habitable environment beneath its icy surface.
A recent study suggests that Pluto may have a subsurface ocean beneath its frozen surface, potentially deeper and denser than Earth's seawater. Clues from the New Horizons mission, such as the lack of an equatorial bulge and surface fractures, hint at this possibility. Researchers modeled the ocean's characteristics, estimating it to be 25-50 miles thick and 8% denser than Earth's seawater. However, the idea remains controversial, and more data is needed to confirm the existence of this ocean.