A fresh, icy crust hides a deep, enigmatic ocean. Plumes of water burst through cracks in the ice, shooting into space. An intrepid lander collects samples and analyses them for […]
Enceladus
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Sub-Micrometer Particles Remote Detection in Enceladus Plume Based on Cassini’s UV Spectrograph Data
Enceladus is the Saturnian satellite known to have water vapor erupting from its south pole region called Tiger Stripes.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Icy Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Signs Of Life Are Detectable In A Single Ice Grain Emitted From Icy Moons
The ice-encrusted oceans of some of the moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter are leading candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life. A new lab-based study led by the University of […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A Light Sail Astrobiology Precursor Mission To Enceladus And Europa
Icy moons with subsurface oceans of liquid water rank among the most promising astrobiological targets in our Solar System.
Posted inEnceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Ice Shell Thickness Reveals Water Temperature On Ocean Worlds
Cornell University astrobiologists have devised a novel way to determine ocean temperatures of distant worlds based on the thickness of their ice shells, effectively conducting oceanography from space.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Callisto, Comets and Asteroids, Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
SwRI Scientists Find Evidence Of Geothermal Activity Within Icy Dwarf Planets
A team co-led by Southwest Research Institute found evidence for hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. Methane detected on […]
Posted inEnceladus, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mimas, Saturn, Status Report, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Long-Term Evolution of the Saturnian System
Here we present the current state of knowledge on the long-term evolution of Saturn’s moon system due to tides within Saturn. First we provide some background on tidal evolution, orbital […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Saturn, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
A New Way To Characterize Habitable Planets
For decades, science fiction authors have imagined scenarios in which life thrives on the harsh surfaces of Mars or our Moon, or in the oceans below the icy surfaces of […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Enceladus, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Saturn, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Astrobiology eXploration at Enceladus (AXE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept Study
The Saturnian moon Enceladus presents a unique opportunity to sample the contents of a subsurface liquid water ocean in situ via the continuous plume formed over its south polar terrain […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Practicing For Ocean And Ice World Exploration: Mapping Earth’s Strongest Sea Current
Editor’s note: We have mission en route or soon to be launched to visit ice -covered ocean worlds in the Jovian system. Some day we’ll visit Enceladus and other ice-covered […]