Posted on 07/29/2012 12:36:42 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Mars dominates the search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system, but a growing number of scientists believe Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, is a much better bet
Enceladus is little bigger than a lump of rock and has appeared, until recently, as a mere pinprick of light in astronomers' telescopes. Yet Saturn's tiny moon has suddenly become a major attraction for scientists. Many now believe it offers the best hope we have of discovering life on another world inside our solar system.
The idea that a moon a mere 310 miles in diameter, orbiting in deep, cold space, 1bn miles from the sun, could provide a home for alien lifeforms may seem extraordinary. Nevertheless, a growing number of researchers consider this is a real prospect and argue that Enceladus should be rated a top priority for future space missions.
This point is endorsed by astrobiologist Professor Charles Cockell of Edinburgh University. "If someone gave me several billion dollars to build whatever space probe I wanted, I would have no hesitation," he says. "I would construct one that could fly to Saturn and collect samples from Enceladus. I would go there rather than Mars or the icy moons of Jupiter, such as Europa, despite encouraging signs that they could support life. Primitive, bacteria-like lifeforms may indeed exist on these worlds but they are probably buried deep below their surfaces and will be difficult to access. On Enceladus, if there are lifeforms, they will be easy to pick up. They will be pouring into space."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Ping for later, thanks for posting
Look. I don’t care about alien life forms in outer space. I care about where I can find a Chic-Fil-A.
Yum enchiladas!
“If someone gave me several billion dollars to build whatever space probe I wanted..
It would have been better billions spent than the billions down the global warming black hole.
/johnny
Empanadas in space? Cool!
Lol, unbelievably, I found one just two miles from my house. Been there for years and I didn’t know it. Shows how observant I am. Went there yesterday for the first time. Not bad.
Typical liberal attitude towards other people's money. "If I had several billion dollars that were mine and hard earned..." would be a better test of his confidence.
I’d buy a used Ford Probe, have the Mexican Aeronautical Space Administration launch it into space for $500, and live out my days in Panama as a billionaire.
Not if you believe your own eyes: http://marsanomalyresearch.com/evidence-reports/2012/221/real-mars.htm
Forests and lakes on Mars in abundance?
Better than looking at Uranus, I suppose.
(can’t believe I’m the first to post this!)
Hard to say what those pictures really represent, but they're authentic. Folks all over the internet have been intrigued by those pictures for years, but for some reason, NASA and JPL don't want to talk about them.
Despite the fact that they're some of the most interesting and baffling images ever captured of that planet, all of our probes have been assigned to study rocky, barren plains of endless nothing.
True. And kept many engineers employed on R&D that would actually help the country, instead of banning conventional tech or cheering a return to a literal Dark age.
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