April 16, 2013 Titan, Saturn’s largest moon Image Credit: NOAA/NASA/ESA Titan is, with a diameter of 5,150 kilometers (3,200 miles), Saturn’s largest moon and the second largest moon in our Solar System (only Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is larger), roughly 50% larger than our own Moon and 80% more massive. Titan orbits Saturn at a distance [continue reading]
The surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa exposes material churned up from inside the moon and also material resulting from matter and energy coming from above. If you want to learn about the deep saltwater ocean beneath this unusual world’s icy shell — as many people do who are interested in possible extraterrestrial life — [continue reading]
The number of potentially habitable planets is greater than previously thought, according to a new analysis by a Penn State researcher, and some of those planets are likely lurking around nearby stars. The graphic shows optimistic and conservative habitable zone boundaries around cool, low mass stars. The numbers indicate the names of known Kepler [continue reading]
Astronomers from Leiden University and the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) think it may be possible to detect signs of extraterrestrial life within the next 25 years… without the need for a space mission. Their article about this will be published in The Astrophysical Journal. Artist’s impression of the European Extremely Large Telescope [continue reading]
Jupiter’s icy moon is subject to constant and significant blasts of radiation. A new experiment attempts to determine how deep life must lay beneath the crust in order to survive. This will be important for future missions looking for life on Europa. Considered one of the best potential sources for extraterrestrial life in the [continue reading]