New organics found on Saturn moon Enceladus
A new analysis published in Nature Astronomy reports the detection of complex organic molecules on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, led by Nozair Khawaja of the Free University of Berlin. Using fresh plume particles recorded by Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer in 2008 and years of chemical analysis, the authors conclude the organics are readily available in Enceladus’s ocean rather than products of long ring exposure, a finding scientists say raises the moon’s prospects for habitability.
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Space
🔍 Key Facts
- A new analysis reporting complex organics linked to Saturn’s moon Enceladus was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
- The study examined particles from Enceladus’s plumes/E ring and concludes the complex organics in those samples are readily available in Enceladus’s subsurface ocean, not merely products of long exposure in the rings.
- Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer recorded fresh plume particles during a 2008 encounter at about 11 miles per second; the detailed chemical analysis of those particles took years to complete.
- The paper’s lead author is Nozair Khawaja (Free University of Berlin), and the coverage includes commentary from University of Washington scientist Fabian Klenner.
- Reporters and scientists framed the findings as indicating Enceladus shows favorable conditions for life, summarized in coverage with the phrase “Simply phenomenal.”
📰 Sources (2)
Saturn's moon shows favorable conditions for life: "Simply phenomenal"
New information:
- Specifies the new analysis was published in the journal Nature Astronomy
- Names lead author Nozair Khawaja (Free University of Berlin) and quotes University of Washington scientist Fabian Klenner
- Describes that Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer recorded fresh plume particles in 2008 at about 11 miles per second and that the detailed chemical analysis took years to complete
- Reports authors' conclusion that complex organics in the E ring samples are readily available in Enceladus's ocean (not merely products of long ring exposure)