Can there be life on Enceladus?
With its global subsurface water ocean, Saturn’s moon Enceladus is considered to be one of the best places to search for life. Now, new research from a team of biologists suggests life on Enceladus might indeed be quite possible … and that we might already have evidence for it.
What is Enceladus known for?
Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn. It is about 500 kilometers (310 mi) in diameter, about a tenth of that of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Enceladus is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, making it one of the most reflective bodies of the Solar System.
Why Enceladus is habitable?
A new study published in Nature Astronomy further investigates Enceladus’ possible habitability, comparing Earth’s deep-sea plumes, where microbial life thrives, with the ones found on the icy moon, and suggesting that they may be home to Earth-like microorganisms.
What could live on Enceladus?
Enceladus sprays a constant plume of material into space from fractures at its south pole. Now scientists have tested whether some of the microorganisms found in the Earth’s ocean vents, known as methanogens, could survive the conditions likely to be found on Enceladus. In theory at least, the scientists found they can …
How long is a day on Enceladus?
8 hours, and 53 minutes
One day on Enceladus is equal to 1.37 Earth days, or one day, 8 hours, and 53 minutes. This is the same amount of time it takes to complete an orbit around Saturn.
Why do we think Enceladus may have potential for life?
An ocean under ice Enceladus’ vulnerability, and promise, is its subsurface ocean, which vents out into space through plumes in the moon’s southern hemisphere. That ocean is home to organic chemistry, water and energy, the three components that scientists have identified as crucial for life.
What did Cassini discover about Enceladus?
Cassini revealed the dramatic truth: Enceladus is an active moon that hides a global ocean of liquid salty water beneath its crust. What’s more, jets of icy particles from that ocean, laced with a brew of water and simple organic chemicals, gush out into space continuously from this fascinating ocean world.
How long is a year on Enceladus?
33 hoursEnceladus / Orbital period
Will Enceladus run out of water?
Given Enceladus’ mass of 1.08 x 10^20 kg, the maximum length of time this could go on is about 17 billion years! Hence, it can continue losing water vapor like this essentially indefinitely, at least as long as the orbital resonances with Dione, a larger satellite of Saturn, continue.
Does Enceladus have sunlight?
Because Enceladus reflects so much sunlight, the surface temperature is extremely cold, about minus 330 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 201 degrees Celsius). But it is not as cold and inactive a place as it appears.
Is there alien life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus?
Methane in plume of Saturn’s moon Enceladus could be sign of alien life, study suggests By Mike Wall 6 days ago But there are other possible explanations as well. An image of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.
What’s in the Enceladus plume?
And there’s more than just water ice in the plume. During numerous close flybys of the 313-mile-wide (504 kilometers) Enceladus, Cassini spotted many other compounds as well-for example, dihydrogen (H2) and a variety of carbon-containing organic compounds, including methane (CH4).
What chemicals did Cassini find on Enceladus?
During numerous close flybys of the 313-mile-wide (504 kilometers) Enceladus, Cassini spotted many other compounds as well — for example, dihydrogen (H2) and a variety of carbon-containing organic compounds, including methane (CH4). Click here for more Space.com videos… Sorry, the video player failed to load. (Error Code: 100013)
Why is there methane on Enceladus?
In addition, H2 provides energy for some Earth microbes that produce methane from carbon dioxide, in a process called methanogenesis. Something similar could be happening on Enceladus, especially given that Cassini also spotted carbon dioxide, and a surprising bounty of methane, in the moon’s plume.