Recent observations suggest that Saturn’s moon Mimas may have a vast ocean beneath its icy surface, potentially formed within the last 5 to 50 million years, as detailed by Adam Mann in the article “This Saturn moon may harbor water” (SN: 3/9/24, p. 8). The gravitational interactions between Saturn’s moons and the planet itself create tidal stresses that generate heat, capable of melting the icy interior of a satellite.
According to astronomer Valéry Lainey from the Paris Observatory, the suspected ocean beneath Mimas likely resulted from interactions with other Saturnian moons in the recent past. While the specific moon responsible remains unknown, such interactions are common in celestial mechanics, as explained by Lainey.
Researchers believe that this subsurface ocean is a relatively new development for Mimas, as there is no evidence of surface deformations that would typically accompany the presence of a liquid ocean.
On 2024-04-14 at 06:34:00, a post discussing Mimas’ hidden ocean and ancient cave art was shared on www.sciencenews.org