Evidence of Liquid Water on Saturn's Moon Enceladus

[n2doc]

Saturn's moon Enceladus contains a large body of water under its surface, new research has confirmed. This has led scientists to speculate that the icy moon may even have conditions suitable for life.

Data from NASA's Cassini Equinox spacecraft revealed negatively charged water molecules in the moon's atmosphere.

"While it's no surprise that there is water there, these short-lived ions are extra evidence for sub-surface water and where there’s water, carbon and energy, some of the major ingredients for life are present," said Andrew Coates from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

This news comes after NASA's Cassini Equinox mission made low passes over Saturn's moon Enceladus in 2008 and 2009. Using an instrument called a plasma spectrometer, elements in the plumes of gas and dust ejected by the moon's geysers could be measured and identified.

Now that the analysis has been completed, it appears the space probe has collected evidence for negatively charged water ions and negatively charged hydrocarbons. (Negatively charged water ions can be found in familiar places on the surface of Earth, near waterfalls and breaking ocean waves for example.)

more:

http://news.discovery.com/space/water-ice-confirmed-on-saturns-moon-enceladus.html

[aquart]

1. I wonder who lives there.

[NoNothing]

2. That's no moon... n/t