The discovery made Mimas a site for research into the conditions that could lead to the development of life, since the first living organisms of Earth appeared in the primordial seas of our planet billions of years ago.
Scientists have discovered an ocean beneath the icy shell of Saturn’s moon Mimas. By cosmic standards, it is relatively young and formed 5-15 million years ago. This was said by researchers from the Paris Observatory, writes Nature.
“This is the smallest place in the solar system to find liquid water. The satellite appears to be old and inactive, it has a large number of craters. Until now, nothing has indicated the presence of an ocean here,” said Valerie Laney, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory.
Scientists say the presence of an ocean indicates a strong heat source within Mimas. This is what made ice turn into water.
By the way, liquid water makes up more than half of the total volume of this satellite.
Note that Mimas is the seventh largest satellite of Saturn, discovered in 1789 by the English astronomer William Herschel.
We remind you that early astronomers took incredible pictures of Saturn.
Source: korrespondent
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