Saturn’s moon Enceladus

Saturn’s moon Enceladus – another water world in our solar system?

Far away from the sun, Saturn’s moon Enceladus is orbiting. Beneath its ice-armored surface, a salty ocean sloshes. The Cassini spacecraft was able to study water vapour fountains and explore nano-ice and salts. At the South Pole, Cassini even discovered silicon compounds that indicate active hydrothermal sources. With organic compounds such as methane and a moon-spanning ocean well protected by the ice shield, Enceladus is another ice world in our solar system.

The lecture Saturn’s moon Enceladus by Bettina Wurche first gives an insight into exobiology and then explains the peculiarities of Enceladus´ as a potential carrier of life. The focus is on the discussion of what life in such a salt-ocean could look like and which terrestrial ecosystems offer model comparisons. It concerns also the mysterious “Lost City” in the depth of the North Atlantic. A scenario with a lot of science fiction potential – like so many of the moons in our solar system!