Saturn's 'Death Star' Moon May Hide Subsurface Ocean 48
astroengine writes With its heavily cratered, geologically dead surface, Saturn's moon Mimas was considered to be scientifically boring. But appearances can be deceiving. Using data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, new research shows something strange inside Mimas that is causing the moon to sway as it orbits around the ringed gas giant. Computer models point to two possibilities. First is that Mimas, which is about 250 miles in diameter, has an oblong or football-shaped core, a clue that the moon may have formed inside Saturn's ice rings. The second option is that Mimas has a global ocean located 16 miles to 19 miles beneath its icy crust.
That's No Moon (Score:4, Funny)
It's a space station!
Re:That's No Moon (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:That's No Moon (Score:5, Insightful)
How awesome would that be? On closer inspect, it is a defunct battle station of unknown origins.
We would be there in a decade, easy.
Re:That's No Moon (Score:5, Funny)
On closer inspect, it is a defunct battle station of unknown origins.
Come a little closer, and witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!
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Boom, you're in a trap set to detect when possible competing sentient life in the galaxy arises on Earth. The aliens come and scrub the planet clean of big brained primates. GW Bush and Rush Limbaugh are of course left to live, but there are no women at all.
The quesiton that interests me (Score:4, Interesting)
can it have life? We know life on earth adapted to survive on sulfur vents, which means sunlight based energy isn't necessary for life to continue.
But what about abiogenesis? Miller-Urey showed us that lightning was a very important component in amino acids first appearing. Is there a tidal or geothermal way to cause the same thing?
I'm pretty interested in the possibility of liquid water alone being enough.
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If it has liquid water, it has heat. Therefore there could be life.
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yes but does it have Jesus?
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yes but does it have Jesus?
Space Jesus.
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He's a wily one, that Space Jesus.
Not a total prankster like Earth Jesus.
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Just lucky, no trees means no lumber means no crosses to be crucified upon.
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yes but does it have Jesus?
Thanks, I just snorted my coke.
Men Without Faith (Score:3)
A) Is a damn good name for a rock & roll band.
B) Are apparently people who stay OUTDOORS during a thunderstorm and thus prone to being struck my lightning, or brought down by fevers from standing outside in the rain like some of the dumbest animals on the planet?
I guess this would explain how religion has done so well and science has struggled overall.
What? (Score:3, Insightful)
I'd understand if TS said: considered a lower priority compared to the other bizarre and wonderful things in orbit around Saturn. That's believable given the level of freaky associated with some of the other satellites. But nothing about Mimas says 'boring'. As for scientifically boring I don't think that is a thing.
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I think "rock" is synonymous with boring. We've pretty much concluded that the moon is boring which
is why we've decided to explore elsewhere. The opposite of "boring" is of course "exciting". What
makes something scientifically exciting is that it either is something we can't explain or helps confirm
something we already think we know. What makes something boring is if there is nothing new to
discover there. My backyard is scientifically boring. You're unlikely to discover something novel in
it. It's pos
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I think "rock" is synonymous with boring.
I daresay that geologists will disagree with you. So clearly, "boring" is not a scientific measure, it lacks objectivity.
Also regardless of that Mimas could hardly be considered a 'rock'. It's made of rock (well, mostly), but look at the thing: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/s... [ddmcdn.com]
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SPOILER ALERT
Please stop throwing Dr. Who surprise plots around.
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Seconded. I was expecting cheesy space horror, but was pleasantly surprised.
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Kerbal problem (Score:2)
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Why only two possibilities? (Score:1)
"Computer models point to two possibilities" ... ... and its growing faster! ...
Hollywood plot writers point to dozens of possibilities:
1. Gargantuan space monster is about to hatch
2. Micro black hole has consumed part of the core
3. Mimas, you're drunk. Go home!
4. Transformers are line dancing, causing this wobble
you know there's more!