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    subsurface ocean tagged posts

    Saturn’s icy moon may host a stable ocean fit for life

    November 11, 2025, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Enceladus heat transfer infographic
    A new study has constrained the Enceladus’ global conductive heat flow by studying its seasonal temperature variations at its north pole (yellow). These results, when combined with existing ones of its highly active south polar region (red) provide the first observational constraint of Enceladus’ energy loss budget (<54 GW) – which is consistent with the predicted energy input (50 to 55 GW) from tidal heating. This implies Enceladus’ current activity is sustainable in the long term – an important prerequisite for the evolution of life, which is thought possible to exist in its global sub-surface ocean. Image credit: University of Oxford/NASA/JPL-CalTech/Space Science Institute (PIA19656 and PIA11141)

    A new study led by researchers from Oxford University, Southwest Research I...

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    Saturn moon, Enceladus, could support life in its Subsurface Ocean

    December 18, 2020, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Courtesy of Southwest Research Institute This figure illustrates a cross-section of Enceladus, showing a summary of the processes SwRI scientists modeled in the Saturn moon. Oxidants produced in the surface ice when water molecules are broken apart by radiation can combine with reductants produced by hydrothermal activity and other water-rock reactions, creating an energy source for potential life in the ocean.

    Using data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) modeled chemical processes in the subsurface ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. The studies indicate the possibility that a varied metabolic menu could support a potentially diverse microbial community in the liquid water ocean beneath the moon’s icy facade.

    Prior to its deorbit in Sep...

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    Scientists introduce Cosmochemical Model for Pluto Formation

    May 28, 2018, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Ralph Instrument Pluto Maps. New Horizons not only showed humanity what Pluto looks like, but also provided information on the composition of Pluto’s atmosphere and surface. These maps — assembled using data from the Ralph instrument — indicate regions rich in methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) ices. Sputnik Planitia shows an especially strong signature of nitrogen near the equator. SwRI scientists combined these data with Rosetta’s comet 67P data to develop a proposed “giant comet” model for Pluto formation. Credit: Image Courtesy of NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute

    Ralph Instrument Pluto Maps. New Horizons not only showed humanity what Pluto looks like, but also provided information on the composition of Pluto’s atmosphere and surface. These maps — assembled using data from the Ralph instrument — indicate regions rich in methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O) ices. Sputnik Planitia shows an especially strong signature of nitrogen near the equator. SwRI scientists combined these data with Rosetta’s comet 67P data to develop a proposed “giant comet” model for Pluto formation. Credit: Image Courtesy of NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute

    New Horizons, Rosetta data fusion points to new theory...

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