The recent discovery has perplexed the scientists involved
Our Solar System contains multiple celestial objects, among which are the main planets that we all know. The planets that have moons are perfectly identified, but the characteristics of their satellites are not, as we will tell you below about the latest find in one of Jupiter’s moons.
Discover the moon Mimas and its ocean
The surface of the moon Pampersas you have seen in the photograph that illustrates the cover of this article, is similar to that of our own satellite, with multitude of craters distributed throughout its geography.
We are talking about one of the smallest moons of Saturn and, as explained in the article published in Nature magazinewhich offers us the possibility of discovering one of its secrets hidden: the existence of a underground ocean of liquid water.
There’s a newfound ocean in the outer Solar System, and it’s in a very surprising place
The sea within Saturn’s satellite Mimas formed within the last 25 million years, a blink of the eye in geological terms https://t.co/lv3U02Ljgv
—nature (@Nature) February 7, 2024
He Dr. Valéry Laineybelonging to the Paris Observatory, is the main author of a study in which it is stated that this ocean may have an estimated age of between 5 to 15 million years. That is why it could be an ideal place to study the formation of life in the Solar System.
Dr. Nick Cooper, co-author of the article, talks about the 400-kilometer diameter of this satellite and the presence of the craters, which did not suggest that an ocean could be hidden beneath its surface. In fact, only Enceladus and Europa have oceansalthough not so young like the one detected in Mimas.
A paper in @Nature suggests that Saturn’s moon, Mimas, may have an ocean hiding beneath an icy cratered surface. Analysis of observations from the Cassini spacecraft indicates that the ocean is relatively new and still evolving. pic.twitter.com/DxJn6e0atw
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) February 7, 2024
He discovery in MimasThanks to the Cassini probecould help science grasp the first stages of the formation of an ocean and, therefore, also serve as a stage to try to find out where life comes from. The discovery has been possible thanks to the orbit change detection of Mimas and presents a very interesting scenario for space exploration.
That little moonspractically inactive, contain oceans inside them that they are capable of harboring some type of life is something that is beginning to unleash the imagination of great scientists and that could represent a revolution when it comes to studying whether it could there is life beyond of the planet Land.