Saturn’s tiny moon may have liquid water

Posted by Britni Day on 6/25/09 • Categorized as Science

Per BBC, NASA has reported that the Cassini spacecraft circling Saturn’s outer ring has obtained evidence on liquid water on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Cassini has detected sodium salts around the south pole of the moon, says BBC. When water has extended contact with rock, it will secrete sodium – the same way the earth’s oceans are salty. Scientists believe liquid water may be in pockets just below the moon’s surface, reports BBC. If scientists find water to be on Enceladus, the article says it may be the best place to search for extraterrestrial life.

Twitterers responded with excitement:

askpako (New York) Saturn’s moon Enceladus, may have salt water on it… are you ready to meet the interplanetary neighbors? 25 Jun 2009 from digsby

mrassman (Los Angeles, California) http://bit.ly/vchdI
No way Saturn’s Moon Enceladus might have life? I always thought it would be Europa 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

nyderoleary (Dublin, Ireland) Woke up to discover that their could be life on a moon of Saturn’s. This is the kind of news I like. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

wicksey (Croydon, United Kingdom) Wow! Saturn’s moon “Enceladus” has a frozen layer above an ocean which science bods say could harbour alien lifeform! 25 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon

MiloNatal (Undisclosed) @Morrius Water on Saturn’s moon? Here, put these goggles on. I bet the aliens think you’re a monster! Tee hee hee. 25 Jun 2009 from web in reply to Morrius

AlanBaxter (Illawarra, Australia) Forget life on Mars: how about life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus? http://bit.ly/p3Rly 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

RobertRoyBritt (Undisclosed) Don’t buy the headlines that read “Alien life may be thriving on Saturn’s frozen moon.” Evidence suggest Enceladus has water. That’s it. 25 Jun 2009 from web

culturesclothes (Philadelphia, PA) Oh did you guys hear that Saturn’s moon might contain alien life? They found out that it could contain watery underground caverns & salt! 25 Jun 2009 from web

mirwais1 (Undisclosed) Is there anybody out there? : RT @wiredscience: Saturn’s moon Enceladus : new evidence of liquid ocean. http://digg.com/d1um5a 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

kchall (Undisclosed) RT @OregonMJW: RT @ScienceChannel: http://tinyurl.com/paxmmn Saturn’s Moon Has Liquid Water.Awesome news! Lttl green people await discovery. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck