Oceans on Saturn's Moon Enceladus!

Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon, has captured the interest of scientists due to its subsurface ocean, making it a strong candidate for extraterrestrial life. Recent studies confirm the presence of a vast ocean beneath its icy crust, supported by gravitational anomalies detected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This ocean, similar in volume to Lake Superior, lies beneath a thick ice shell. The interaction between liquid water and the rocky core could foster chemical reactions necessary for life. Enceladus' potential for habitability is compared to Jupiter's moon Europa, which also has a subsurface ocean. NASA is considering future missions to explore these moons further.

What makes Enceladus a promising candidate for extraterrestrial life?

• Its proximity to the Sun

• The presence of an atmosphere

• Its large size compared to other moons

• The presence of a subsurface ocean

What did the Cassini spacecraft observe that suggested the presence of an underground ocean on Enceladus?

• Magnetic fields

• A thick atmosphere

• Geyser-like plumes of water

• Volcanic eruptions

What anomaly did scientists find in Enceladus' gravitational field?

• No gravitational field

• A stronger gravitational field than expected

• A fluctuating gravitational field

• A weaker gravitational field than expected

What is the estimated depth of the ocean beneath Enceladus' ice shell?

• 10 kilometers

• 50 kilometers

• 20 kilometers

• 5 kilometers

Which other moon is mentioned as a competitor to Enceladus for the potential of hosting life?

• Europa

• Io

• Ganymede

• Titan