The liquid found on Saturn’s satellite, Titan represents one of the most thrilling and crucial discoveries of our century, since except for Earth, this is the second solar body with open lakes on the surface in the planetary system. NASA’s press release informed the public that the open lake structures consisted of liquid hydrocarbons like ethane. In the many close flybys around Saturn and its moons, Cassini probe took a large number of pictures of these planetary system. Scientists came to the conclusion that there could be real oceans of methane, ethane and various other hydrocarbons; the speculation of crude oil components was confirmed by the dark color of the substance revealed on Titan. Even so, the liquid form was not confirmed until a probe got on Titan in January 2005.
The depth of these pools or lakes of liquid found on Saturn’s satellite could run as deep as some hundred feet. Cassini spacecraft used an infrared scanning technique to approximate the size of these formations. Yet, the main issue remains as whether this planet can support life or not. Liquid found on Saturn’s other moon, Enceladus, seems to be water springing from high pressure geysers fueled by reservoirs just below the cold planet surface. Could such scientific evidence begin a new era in the planetary exploration programs? Though life remains difficult to imagine in the unfavorable weather of this icy world, right beneath the surface of Enceladus, all the discoveries indicate that there are chances for life to develop.
Consequently the liquid found on Saturn’s Enceladus triggered a whole set of new investigations for life in the solar system. Plus, the other prerequisite for life existence on Enceladus, organic materials, is also met: there is methane, ethane, carbon dioxide and several others. Finally, in the hot areas closer to core, deep down in Saturn’s layers, the temperature could also generate a favorable environment for the growth of life forms.
The liquid found on Saturn’s moons represents the most exciting discovery in the last twenty five years, since the moment when volcanic activity was identified on one of Jupiter’s satellites. Even if the real origin of the water geysers on Enceladus cannot be observed by means of the cameras on Cassini, there is no doubt about the water sprays and the ice visible in the polar region. An identical alternation of hot and icy patterns specific to commets is present in this Enceladus combination of hot water and icy particles. Then, there must be liquid water under the surface!