Dione has underground ocean

[insert_name]

Well, looks like Enceladus isn't the only Saturnian moon hiding an underground ocean, Dione has one too. Apparently this one is 60km below the ice, so we probably won't see plumes Link

[Scotius]

That's very good news. Another target for exploration

[GluttonyReaper]

So how many major moons don't have sub-surface oceans at this point?

Edited October 13, 2016 by GluttonyReaper

[insert_name]

22 minutes ago, GluttonyReaper said:

So many major moons don't have sub-surface oceans at this point?

the all the uranian moons as far as we know, io, luna, Tethys, and Iapetus, maybe rhea

[cubinator]

"gravity data from recent Cassini flybys can be explained if Dione’s crust floats on an ocean"

The gravioli particles were slightly damp when they were picked up by the negative gravioli detector.

I wonder if water is this common in other star systems?

Edited October 13, 2016 by cubinator
Separated joke from actual pondering

[Andem]

#EuropaOceansMatter

[YNM]

So it seems like compressed water is the key to future ?

[kerbiloid]

Looks like only Moon and Io don't have...

[SargeRho]

20 hours ago, cubinator said:

"gravity data from recent Cassini flybys can be explained if Dione’s crust floats on an ocean"

The gravioli particles were slightly damp when they were picked up by the negative gravioli detector.

I wonder if water is this common in other star systems?

Water is one of the most common compounds in the universe, after Carbon Monoxide and Methane.

[magnemoe]

21 hours ago, Andem said:

#EuropaOceansMatter

Hit Venus with Europa, this add water and an grazing hit increase rotation, 
Yes its fun but stupid better to use some Kuiper belt objects, easier to redirect, higher dV on impact, no bleeding hearts and Jupiter tourist hotels complaining. 
 

[idamoofus]

With all this evidence mounting for liquid water being a lot more common than we thought, I wonder when we'll see growing interest toward exploring watery moons in detail. It makes me optimistic - cautiously so, since I know the public's track record with space interest.

[cubinator]

2 hours ago, MrLake said:

With all this evidence mounting for liquid water being a lot more common than we thought, I wonder when we'll see growing interest toward exploring watery moons in detail. It makes me optimistic - cautiously so, since I know the public's track record with space interest.

Until people finally get bored with Mars, Mars, Mars (this will take a while) there probably won't be much interest, unfortunately.

[lajoswinkler]

It's nothing surprising. Iovian planets' satellites are mostly icy and water will turn into liquid in their depths, due to pressure and elevated temperature.

I think the only surprised people are oblivious journalists.