Saturn’s small moon Mimas may be hiding an impossible ocean

Mimas doesn’t amusement immoderate hints of liquid water, and it seems intolerable that it could person an water nether its surface, but that’s precisely what a caller acceptable of simulations suggest Space 11 January 2022

By Leah Crane

Mimas, a satellite of Saturn, imaged by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Saturn’s satellite Mimas whitethorn person an unexpected ocean. This tiny outer doesn’t look similar immoderate of the different water worlds that we person seen before, but measurements from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft hinted that it mightiness person water underneath its icy surface, and calculations of its interior vigor person present confirmed that this is possible.

Unlike astir of the different moons that planetary scientists judge to transportation oceans, Mimas shows nary fracturing oregon grounds of melting connected its surface. …