Discovery of Titan
MAR 25, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.031184
Two of Saturn’s moons seem most promising for harboring life: Titan (which was discovered on this day in 1655) and Enceladus. But if the researchers behind a new study are correct, then life probably hasn’t had time to arise on Enceladus. By analyzing the orbits of Saturn’s moons, Matija Ćuk, Luke Dones, and David Nesvorný conclude that Enceladus and other inner moons can’t be more than about 100 million years old. If that’s the case (and it’s certainly not proven), then Enceladus, despite sporting geysers and a buried ocean, is probably sterile.
Date in History: 25 March 1655
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
