Cassini detects tenuous atmosphere around Saturn moon
Posted: Tue, Mar 6, 2012, 6:50 AM ET (1150 GMT)
Scientists have found that an icy moon of Saturn has a very tenuous atmosphere of molecular oxygen. Instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of ions of molecular oxygen surrounding the moon Dione, with a density similar to the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of nearly 500 kilometers. Scientists believe the oxygen is created when solar photons or energetic particles strike the moon's icy surface, liberating oxygen, but haven't rules out geological processes. Cassini also detected a similar tenuous atmosphere around Saturn's moon Rhea in 2010.
Scientists have found that an icy moon of Saturn has a very tenuous atmosphere of molecular oxygen. Instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of ions of molecular oxygen surrounding the moon Dione, with a density similar to the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of nearly 500 kilometers. Scientists believe the oxygen is created when solar photons or energetic particles strike the moon's icy surface, liberating oxygen, but haven't rules out geological processes. Cassini also detected a similar tenuous atmosphere around Saturn's moon Rhea in 2010.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Roscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS
Posted: Sat, Dec 6 9:45 AM ET (1445 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, December 21
Eutelsat OneWeb to deploy 340 satellites in Gen-2 push; eyeing ISRO for key launches
MSN India — 5:07 am ET (1007 GMT) Space Acquisition Leaders Concerned SBIR Lapse Could Hurt Innovation Pipeline
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 5:06 am ET (1006 GMT) Rocket Lab signs huge deal with US space agency
Radio New Zealand — 5:05 am ET (1005 GMT) Rocket Lab Successfully Launches for iQPS, Ends 2025 with 21 Launches and 100% Mission Succes
Rocket Lab — 5:04 am ET (1004 GMT) Wheelchair user makes historic Blue Origin spaceflight
KTSM-TV El Paso — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) |
