The Cassini-Huygens probe to NASA has found that under the icy crust of Enceladus, a moon of Saturn , an ocean of liquid water hidden , reports the journal Icarus.
Enceladus is one of the major inner satellites of Saturn and orbits within the densest part of the E ring, the outermost zone rings this planet.
Previous studies Cassini data have suggested the presence of a body water under the surface . Following recent data received by the spacecraft, the possibility that this body is spread throughout the satellite opened.
“This was a difficult problem that requires years of observations and calculations with a varied collection of disciplines, but we are confident that we finally got it right, “says Peter Thomas, a researcher at Cornell University and study leader.
In reaching this conclusion, the researchers analyzed more than seven years of images captured by the Cassini spacecraft, orbiting Saturn since 2004. They studied the positions of its craters, got measurements rotation of Enceladus changes with great precision, and they discovered a slight-but perceptible change in its orbit around the planet.
Measuring this slight wobble called libration , they raised various possible models of the interior of Enceladus, and reached the final result: “If the surface and core are connected rigidly both provide core Hover dead weight would be much lower. This shows that there must be a global layer of liquid that separates the core surface, “explains Matthew Tiscareno, co-author of the study.
Now scientists seek to explain why this internal ocean it is not frozen and remains in its liquid state
Source:. Muyinteresante / Oglobo.com
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