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discoverynews: Oxygen Discovery Raises Hopes for Saturn Moon Life Two years ago, when NASA’s Cassini Solstice spacecraft flew past the moon Dione, it noticed something familiar. Oxygen was present in Saturn’s third-largest moon’s exosphere (it’s extended, tenuous atmosphere), and Cassini’s hi-tech “nose” had sniffed it.Obviously, the first thing that springs to mind when discussing oxygen is that it’s a pretty important component for life on Earth. But Dione, a barren and icy world, possesses few attributes that would make it suitable for life as we know it. keep reading Image: Dione hangs above Saturn’s magnificent rings. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

discoverynews:

Oxygen Discovery Raises Hopes for Saturn Moon Life

Two years ago, when NASA’s Cassini Solstice spacecraft flew past the moon Dione, it noticed something familiar. Oxygen was present in Saturn’s third-largest moon’s exosphere (it’s extended, tenuous atmosphere), and Cassini’s hi-tech “nose” had sniffed it.

Obviously, the first thing that springs to mind when discussing oxygen is that it’s a pretty important component for life on Earth. But Dione, a barren and icy world, possesses few attributes that would make it suitable for life as we know it.

keep reading

Image: Dione hangs above Saturn’s magnificent rings. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute