The study on Saturn with NASA's Cassini spacecraft has recently discovered a significant development in finding out if it features all the essentials that could harbor life on its ocean moon, Enceladus. The recent discovery confirms that the tiny ocean Moon of the ringed planet in our Solar System has phosphorus, and it is one of the key elements to harbor life.
Its recent discovery is a massive development in learning more about Saturn and its moons, also, it opens up new possibilities for further studies about the signs of life in the satellite.
Enceladus Bears Phosphorus After Recent Cassini Survey
(Photo : NASA)
The Enceladus may not be as massive and popular compared to the largest moon of Saturn, Titan, but it certainly is one of the most intriguing because it is known for being filled with oceans. Now, a recent study published via Nature's Journal has detailed the discovery from the data sent by NASA's Cassini mission which shows phosphorus existing in Enceladus.
As per the study, Encladus is now considered to have all the essential elements that are important to harbor life, and phosphorus was the last piece of the puzzle, being one of the rare elements.
This trumps over a previous study in 2018 which claimed that phosphorus concentrations would be depleted and is not possible to harbor life on its oceans.
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Phosphorus is a Life Essential Element on Earth
As per Space.com, phosphorus is an essential element on Earth and it is considered vital for all life on the home planet. In the study, lead author Frank Postberg also looked into possible signs of life on Saturn.
However, the researcher said that the team was not able to find life or something created by life on the Enceladus and its oceans.
Saturn and the NASA Cassini Exploration
NASA may have the Juno in place to probe its Roman mythology partner, Jupiter, the renowned gas giant of the Solar System, but there are also other spacecraft meant to survey other planets. For Saturn, NASA has employed the Cassini spacecraft to survey and learn more about the ringed planet that is best known for its seven main rings.
NASA and the European Space Agency's Cassini was first launched back in 1997, and have made its way to the ringed planet by 2004, seven years later. Since then, it has contributed to out-of-this-world images snapped from Saturn that showcase its rings, but it is not only a photographer of the planet, but also looking into discovering more about the planet and supplying the information to humans.
The Cassini has proved to be one of the most important and longest-active spacecraft deployed for surveying the other planets in the Solar System, still giving humans the latest discoveries there are for the planet. With the recent information it supplied researchers, the team was able to determine that phosphorus is indeed present in Enceladus, but signs of life are yet to be found.
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