Latest news with #Cassini
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Ocean worlds beyond Earth: NASA's hunt for life through water
Water, the cradle of life as we understand it, is no longer unique to Earth. From subsurface oceans on frozen moons to water vapor in extraterrestrial atmospheres, NASA's findings are redefining what we know about the universe. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With its Ocean Worlds initiative, NASA is spearheading a high-stakes search for liquid water, thought to be the most critical factor for the presence of extraterrestrial life. (source: Let us discover the undiscovered Water in the universe With the ease of imagining Earth as the single "blue planet," it's simple to forget that water is much more prevalent than previously thought. NASA says the Orion Nebula, which is a star-forming region 1,300 light-years from Earth, churns out 60 Earth oceans' worth of water daily. That is not a romanticism but an estimate grounded in observation of water vapor clouds churning through interstellar space. These immense clouds of water are the material out of which stars, planets, and even life itself arise. The ocean world of the solar system Just a little closer to home, our solar system features a remarkable number of "ocean worlds", bodies that have liquid water present today or that have evidence of having had such in the past. Earth is only. But the others? Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has a hidden ocean beneath its icy crust that is potentially two times the size of all Earth's oceans combined. This saltwater ocean is maintained in a liquid state due to the internal heat of the moon and potentially has the proper chemical conditions for life. Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons, is smaller than the state of Arizona and harbors a global subsurface ocean. In 2005, NASA's Cassini spacecraft picked up gigantic plumes of water vapor rising from its south pole. The plumes reported at hundreds of kilometers high carry organic compounds, hydrogen, and salt, suggesting hydrothermal activity deep within. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then there's Ganymede (another Jupiter moon), Callisto, Titan, and even dwarf planet Ceres, all thought to have or at least to have had liquid reservoirs. Altogether, NASA now recognizes over a dozen ocean worlds in our solar system alone. Mars: The desert planet with a mysterious past Mars, the Red Planet, is now a dry and dusty world, but it wasn't always. Ancient lakebeds and riverbeds, as well as polar ice caps, indicate a watery past. A 2018 radar survey indicated that liquid water could still be present beneath the ice cap at the South Pole, buried beneath ice and rock. While only about 0.03% of all Earth's water is still visible on Mars today, the hunt goes on for underground aquifers with possibly still-existent microbial life. Did you know there is water outside the solar system? NASA's space telescopes have ventured well outside our solar neighborhood in the search for water. By analyzing spectra, scientists have identified water vapor in the atmospheres of over 10 exoplanets. Some are in the "Goldilocks Zone," where conditions may be suitable for water to exist in a liquid state on the surface, opening up the intriguing possibility of habitable alien planets. The James Webb Space Telescope will exponentially increase our capability to research such worlds, enabling scientists to scan atmospheric composition and even discern signs of biological processes if they're present. Water is not merely a molecule; it's the universal solvent that can accommodate advanced chemistry and harbor life. NASA's plan is basic but profound: "Follow the water." Wherever liquid water exists, whether under a shell of ice, in a crater, or churning in extraterrestrial clouds, it becomes the top priority in the quest for life. Missions such as Europa Clipper, which will launch in 2024, and Dragonfly, bound for Titan during the 2030s, are intended to explore these ocean worlds like never before. Equipment will take magnetometer readings, scan surface chemistry, and even try to fly through water plumes to sample them. In all, NASA has recognized at least 15 bodies in our solar system with evidence of water in some way. The number will likely increase as exploration continues. The universe, once conceived as arid and unfriendly, now seems full of the building blocks of life. The existence of water in the solar system and elsewhere is no longer speculation; it's a scientific fact. From the ancient Martian lakes to icy moons filled with vapor, water defines planetary geography and the course of space exploration. As NASA's Ocean Worlds program demonstrates, the quest for water is a quest for ourselves, for life in the universe, and for a deeper understanding of our place in it. Disclaimer: This article is drafted on the basis of information sourced from NASA's official website
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'We've got a new mystery on our hands': Titan's weird wobble just got even stranger
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. For years, scientists have been intrigued by a weird "wobble" in the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Now, new research is revealing clues about Titan's strange atmospheric tilt, but it's also raising new mysteries. Data from the Cassini mission to Saturn has shown that, unlike Earth's atmosphere, Titan's atmosphere doesn't rotate in sync with its surface. Instead, it tilts and shifts like a spinning top that changes its orientation with the seasons. "The behaviour of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Lucy Wright, lead author of the new research and a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol in the U.K., said in a statement. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble." Scientists thought the direction of the tilt would be influenced by either Saturn's gravity or the position of the sun, as is often the case in planetary systems — meaning it would change as Titan orbited Saturn and the sun. But observations show that the tilt direction doesn't move. Instead, it stays pointed the same way in space, as if unaffected by those external forces. This finding was unexpected. If solar heating or Saturn's gravity were controlling the tilt, it should move over time. Instead, the tilt seems locked in place, suggesting that some other, still-unknown process is at work, the researchers reported in a study published May 20 in The Planetary Science Journal. "That would've given us clues to the cause," Nick Teanby, co-author of the study and a planetary scientist at the University of Bristol, said in the statement. "Instead, we've got a new mystery on our hands." Titan is the only moon in the solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. It is composed primarily of nitrogen and contains complex organic molecules, making it a scientifically important object for studying things like atmospheric processes and prebiotic chemistry. RELATED STORIES —Saturn's moon Titan may have a 6-mile-thick crust of methane ice — could life be under there? —There's liquid on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. But something's missing and scientists are confused —Alien life could exist on Saturn's big moon Titan — but finding it will be tough From 2004 to 2017, NASA's Cassini spacecraft closely observed Titan, revealing important changes in its atmosphere, like a steady tilt in the middle layers and the appearance and disappearance of swirling winter polar vortices. This new understanding of Titan's atmospheric wobble is important for NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission, which is set to arrive in the 2030s. Because Titan's winds are much faster than its surface rotation, knowing how the atmosphere shifts with the seasons will help engineers more accurately plan Dragonfly's descent and landing. "Our work shows that there are still remarkable discoveries to be made in Cassini's archive," study co-author Conor Nixon, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in the statement. "This instrument, partly built in the U.K., journeyed across the Solar System and continues to give us valuable scientific returns. "The fact that Titan's atmosphere behaves like a spinning top disconnected from its surface raises fascinating questions — not just for Titan, but for understanding atmospheric physics more broadly, including on Earth," Nixon added.
Scottish Sun
07-06-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Distant moon could have aliens on it – and experts just spotted a ‘mysterious motion' in its atmosphere
A DISTANT moon in our solar system might mirror Earth's seasons, according to scientists, who also believe it could be a candidate for finding nearby alien life. And scientists just spotted a mysterious motion in its atmosphere. Advertisement 6 Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration Credit: NASA / ESA / IPGP / Labex UnivEarthS / University Paris Diderot illustration Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is home to sprawling rivers and lakes of liquid methane, icy boulders and dunes of grains that resemble coffee grounds. It even has an ocean hiding beneath its surface. Some 746million miles (1.2billion kilometers) away from Earth, the distant moon is thought to have rain clouds just like Earth. Unlike seasons on Earth, Titan has a much longer seasonal cycle, with each year on the moon lasting nearly three decades on our planet. Advertisement Despite its brutally cold temperatures, which average around -179C (-290F), this strange, alien world appears to have the organic ingredients for life. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration. Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life, particularly in subsurface oceans and liquid reservoirs. The mission just passed its critical design review - meaning engineers can begin building the helicopter-like robot ahead of its scheduled launch in July 2028. Advertisement Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034. 6 Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben 6 Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034 Credit: Johns Hopkins APL 'Strange' motion In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface. Advertisement The "strange" motion was detected following analysis of archival infrared data gathered by Cassini probe. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Dr. Lucy Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, said at the time. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilising itself in space. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble. Advertisement "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." 6 In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface Credit: SWNS But understanding how the atmosphere wobbles with the seasons is crucial for calculating the landing trajectory of Dragonfly. The rotorcraft will be carried by Titan's fast-moving winds as it descends through the atmosphere. Advertisement Winds on Titan's upper atmosphere can be tempestuous, with speeds reaching up to 270mph (430kmph). Near the surface, however, the winds are much weaker. The tilt of the planet affects how Dragonfly's payload - a suite of scientific instruments designed to search for alien life - will be carried through the air. So research into the atmospheric motion can help engineers better predict where Dragonfly will touch down on the lunar surface. Advertisement 6 A 3D illustration of the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan Credit: Getty 6 Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, a new study found Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Food for thought There appears to be plenty of organic material on Titan to support alien lifeforms, according to a study published in The Planetary Science Journal last month. Its lakes and its subsurface ocean believed to be 300miles deep, is thought to be filled with cold, oily methane and ethane - which is organic material. Advertisement "There has been this sense that because Titan has such abundant organics, there is no shortage of food sources that could sustain life," Antonin Affholder, of the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. The world exceeds even Earth's oil reserves. However, scientists remain skeptical, and while Titan could harbour life, it's likely only to be a small amount. "We point out that not all of these organic molecules may constitute food sources, the ocean is really big," added Affholder. Advertisement "And there's limited exchange between the ocean and the surface, where all those organics are, so we argue for a more nuanced approach." All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Distant moon could have aliens on it – and experts just spotted a ‘mysterious motion' in its atmosphere
A DISTANT moon in our solar system might mirror Earth's seasons, according to scientists, who also believe it could be a candidate for finding nearby alien life. And scientists just spotted a mysterious motion in its atmosphere. 6 Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration Credit: NASA / ESA / IPGP / Labex UnivEarthS / University Paris Diderot illustration It even has an ocean hiding beneath its surface. Some 746million miles (1.2billion kilometers) away from Earth, the distant moon is thought to have rain clouds just like Earth. Unlike seasons on Earth, Titan has a much longer seasonal cycle, with each year on the moon lasting nearly three decades on our planet. READ MORE ON SPACE Despite its brutally cold temperatures, which average around -179C (-290F), this strange, alien world appears to have the organic ingredients for life. Titan is the only moon in our solar system with a significant atmosphere, making it a top candidate for exploration. Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) The mission just passed its critical design review - meaning engineers can begin building the helicopter-like robot ahead of its scheduled launch in July 2028. Most read in Science Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034. 6 Nasa's $3.35billion (£2.48billion) Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon is set to explore the possibility of past or present water-based life Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben 6 Dragonfly, which was officially selected as a viable mission in 2019, is expected to reach Titan sometime in 2034 Credit: Johns Hopkins APL 'Strange' motion In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface. The "strange" motion was detected following analysis of archival infrared data gathered by Cassini probe. "The behavior of Titan's atmospheric tilt is very strange," Dr. Lucy Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol, said at the time. "Titan's atmosphere appears to be acting like a gyroscope, stabilising itself in space. "We think some event in the past may have knocked the atmosphere off its spin axis, causing it to wobble. "Even more intriguingly, we've found that the size of this tilt changes with Titan's seasons." 6 In late May, researchers found that Titan's hazy atmosphere wobbles like a gyroscope in line with its seasons, as opposed to spinning in line with its surface Credit: SWNS But understanding how the atmosphere wobbles with the seasons is crucial for calculating the landing trajectory of Dragonfly. The rotorcraft will be carried by Titan's fast-moving winds as it descends through the atmosphere. Winds on Titan's upper atmosphere can be tempestuous, with speeds reaching up to 270mph (430kmph). Near the surface, however, the winds are much weaker. The tilt of the planet affects how Dragonfly's payload - a suite of scientific instruments designed to search for alien life - will be carried through the air. So research into the atmospheric motion can help engineers better predict where Dragonfly will touch down on the lunar surface. 6 A 3D illustration of the hydrocarbon lakes on Titan Credit: Getty 6 Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, a new study found Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Food for thought There appears to be plenty of organic material on Titan to support alien lifeforms, according to a Its lakes and its subsurface ocean believed to be 300miles deep, is thought to be filled with cold, oily methane and ethane - which is organic material. "There has been this sense that because Titan has such abundant organics, there is no shortage of food sources that could sustain life," Antonin Affholder, of the University of Arizona and lead author of the paper, said in a statement. The world exceeds even Earth's oil reserves. However, scientists remain skeptical, and while Titan could harbour life, it's likely only to be a small amount. "We point out that not all of these organic molecules may constitute food sources, the ocean is really big," added Affholder. "And there's limited exchange between the ocean and the surface, where all those organics are, so we argue for a more nuanced approach." All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is How many moons does What colour is How far away is How big is How many moons does Does How many moons does How big is How hot is the
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Science
- The Advertiser
Ask Fuzzy: What's happening to Jupiter's spot?
While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast:
