New Evidence Suggests Saturn’s Moon Mimas Has Large Underground Ocean
Saturn’s moon Mimas, known for its resemblance to the Death Star from the Star Wars movies, has recently become the focus of scientific interest. Researchers now believe that this icy moon likely harbors a large underground ocean, according to new evidence collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.
Cassini, which spent over 10 years observing Saturn and its numerous moons before ending its mission in 2017, provided valuable data about Mimas’ orbit and rotation. This data has led astronomers to conclude that there is a hidden ocean approximately 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon’s frozen surface.
Mimas, with a diameter of about 400 kilometers, lacks the surface formations typically found on other moons that indicate the presence of underground water. This made it an unexpected candidate for an underground ocean. Valery Lainey of the Paris Observatory, co-author of the study published in Nature, expressed his surprise, stating, “Mimas was probably the most unlikely place to look for a global ocean — and liquid water more generally.”
The amount of water estimated to exist below Mimas’ surface is relatively small, representing only 1.2 to 1.4 percent of Earth’s oceans. This is due to the moon’s small size. However, Mimas does possess a massive crater resulting from a collision with a space object, giving it a striking resemblance to the fictional Death Star.
English astronomer William Herschel discovered Mimas in 1789 and named it after a giant in Greek mythology. The recent findings have sparked excitement among scientists. Matija Cuk of the SETI Institute and Alyssa Rose Rhoden of the Southwest Research Institute, who were not part of the study but co-wrote an article accompanying it, described the idea of a small, icy moon containing young oceans as “inspiring.”
The researchers believe that the underground ocean on Mimas formed relatively recently, possibly between 5 and 15 million years ago. They estimate that the overall temperature of the ocean is around zero degrees Celsius, but the seafloor might be much warmer. The fact that the water is in contact with the moon’s rocky center creates complex chemical conditions that could potentially support life.
However, due to the ocean’s young age, scientists speculate that it may not be ideal for life to form there. Gabriel Tobie, a scientist at the French scientific research agency CNRS and The University of Nantes, explained, “Mimas’ ocean might be a challenge for life’s development.” Nevertheless, Tobie added, “Nobody knows how long life needs to emerge from a suitable environment. Mimas may offer a unique opportunity to explore the first stage of life’s development.”
The discovery of a large underground ocean on Saturn’s moon Mimas opens up new possibilities for understanding the potential habitability of celestial bodies. While Mimas may not be the most likely candidate for hosting life, its unique characteristics and proximity to Saturn make it an intriguing subject for further exploration. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of our solar system, the secrets hidden beneath the icy surface of Mimas may hold valuable clues about the origins and potential for life beyond Earth.
In conclusion, the recent findings regarding Mimas’ underground ocean shed light on the fascinating possibilities that lie within our own cosmic neighborhood. Although many questions remain unanswered, this discovery serves as a reminder of the vastness and complexity of our universe and the potential for life to exist in unexpected places. As we continue to explore and study celestial bodies like Mimas, we inch closer to unlocking the secrets of our cosmic origins.
