Submarines, it turns out, could have a big future in space exploration. The subsurface oceans of the Jupiter moon Europa and Saturn satellite Enceladus are perhaps the most tantalizing places in the solar system in the search for alien life. But these water bodies remain out of reach, hundreds millions of miles away and beneath thick icy crusts. Now, a European collaboration aims to break through some of the technological and physical barriers in the way of future exploration of icy moons and their waters, using Antarctica as a proving…
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See a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18
It’s tiny. It’s challenging. But you won’t get the chance to see Iapetus transit the globe of Saturn again until 2037! The post See a Rare Transit of Iapetus on July 17–18 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreWill Saturn Sprout Spots this Observing Season?
As Saturn returns to the morning sky, will this otherwise serene-looking planet experience another bout of severe weather? Keep your eyes peeled for white spots! The post Will Saturn Sprout Spots this Observing Season? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreSaturn Has a Fuzzy Core, Too
New research reveals that Saturn, like Jupiter, has a “fuzzy” core that extends 60% of the way to its surface, a finding that is changing how astronomers think about giant planets. The post Saturn Has a Fuzzy Core, Too appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreHelium Rain Inside Saturn Might Shape Its Magnetic Field
A thick inner layer of slowly falling helium blobs might help explain Saturn’s almost perfectly aligned magnetic field. The post Helium Rain Inside Saturn Might Shape Its Magnetic Field appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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