Become a dv.com member, Click here to register!
    • Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views




    Results 1 to 4 of 4
    Like Tree2Likes
    • 1 Post By Descensus
    • 1 Post By Descensus

    Thread: Enceladus has a subsurface ocean

    1. 04-05-2014 12:05 AM #1
      Descensus
      USA Descensus is offline
      Terminally Out of Phase Descensus's Avatar
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Gender
      Posts
      2,246
      Likes
      831

      Enceladus has a subsurface ocean

      From Universe Today:

      Ever since the Cassini spacecraft first spied water vapor and ice spewing from fractures in Enceladus’ frozen surface in 2005, scientists have hypothesized that a large reservoir of water lies beneath that icy surface, possibly fueling the plumes. Now, gravity measurements gathered by Cassini have confirmed that this enticing moon of Saturn does in fact harbor a large subsurface ocean near its south pole.

      Original paper (behind a paywall): The Gravity Field and Interior Structure of Enceladus.

      Iess et al. (p. 78) used long-range data collected by the Cassini spacecraft to construct a gravity model of Enceladus. The resulting gravity field indicates the presence of a large mass anomaly at its south pole. Calculations of the moment of inertia and hydrostatic equilibrium from the gravity data suggest the presence of a large, regional subsurface ocean 30 to 40 km deep.
      StephL likes this.
      The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended. - Frédéric Bastiat
      I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to others, at least as long as they refuse to keep their fantasies to themselves. - Christopher Hitchens
      Formerly known as BLUELINE976
      Reply With Quote Reply With Quote  
    2. 04-05-2014 12:58 AM #2
      StephL
      Germany StephL is offline
      Member StephL's Avatar
      Join Date
      Oct 2013
      LD Count
      84
      Gender
      Posts
      2,420
      Likes
      3288
      DJ Entries
      117
      Thank you for posting!

      Now it just needed hydrothermal vents to have a fine chance at being inhabited?
      Reply With Quote Reply With Quote  
    3. 04-05-2014 01:38 AM #3
      Descensus
      USA Descensus is offline
      Terminally Out of Phase Descensus's Avatar
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Gender
      Posts
      2,246
      Likes
      831
      Quote Originally Posted by StephL View Post
      Thank you for posting!

      Now it just needed hydrothermal vents to have a fine chance at being inhabited?
      As long as organic compounds and inorganic salts (which catalyze many organic reactions) are being released into the water, life could be possible.

      http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf.../ast.2014.1158
      StephL likes this.
      The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended. - Frédéric Bastiat
      I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to others, at least as long as they refuse to keep their fantasies to themselves. - Christopher Hitchens
      Formerly known as BLUELINE976
      Reply With Quote Reply With Quote  
    4. 04-05-2014 04:25 PM #4
      StephL
      Germany StephL is offline
      Member StephL's Avatar
      Join Date
      Oct 2013
      LD Count
      84
      Gender
      Posts
      2,420
      Likes
      3288
      DJ Entries
      117
      Silly me - it has of course a hydro-thermal activity - spewing a plume of water into space - there should be no energy shortage.
      If I understand the paper correctly - it is not volcanic in this case but a result of stresses on the surface by "tidally induced flexure during a much earlier epoch of higher orbital eccentricity"..
      Thanks for that BLUELINE!

      All hail to our Enceladean brethren - may they live long and prosper - until and also after we may find them!
      Reply With Quote Reply With Quote  
    « Previous Thread | Next Thread »

    Similar Threads

    1. Lifting an Ocean
      By Klikko in forum Lucid Experiences
      Replies: 23
      Last Post: 02-07-2011, 02:44 PM
    2. Crocodiles at the Ocean.
      By garnet in forum Dream Interpretation
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 07-03-2010, 10:17 AM
    3. Ocean's 12
      By icedawg in forum Entertainment
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 01-13-2006, 03:18 PM
    4. The ocean
      By OrcaXIII in forum Lucid Experiences
      Replies: 16
      Last Post: 02-18-2005, 11:13 PM

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •  

    Forum Rules