The Secret of ‘Death Star’ Revealed
A recent study conducted by French astronomers provides compelling evidence of a vast ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn’s moon, Mimas.
Analysis of data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft indicates that this ocean lies 12 to 18 miles beneath the frozen crust.
Despite Mimas’ small size and lack of typical signs of subsurface activity, it is believed to harbor a large ocean that fills half its volume.
The implications of this discovery, detailed in the journal Nature, have piqued the interest of scientists for its implications on the search for habitable worlds and the origins of life.
Despite its small size, Mimas boasts the second-largest impact crater of any moon in the solar system, likening it to the Death Star from ‘Star Wars.’
The estimated age of the oceans, ranging from 5 million to 15 million years, suggests they are too young to leave significant marks on the moon’s surface.
This discovery opens up opportunities for further study of Mimas and its potential as a window into the origins of life.
