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A diffuse core in Saturn revealed by ring seismology

Fuller, Jim; Mankovich, Christopher R.

The best constraints on the internal structures of giant planets have historically originated from measurements of their gravity fields^1-3. These data are inherently mostly sensitive to a planet's outer regions, stymieing efforts to measure the mass and compactness of the cores of Jupiter^2,4,5 and Saturn^6,7. Howeve…

Bayesian analysis of Enceladus's plume data to assess methanogenesis

Affholder, Antonin; Guyot, François; Sauterey, Boris +2 more

Observations from NASA's Cassini spacecraft established that Saturn's moon Enceladus has an internal liquid ocean. Analysis of a plume of ocean material ejected into space suggests that alkaline hydrothermal vents are present on Enceladus's seafloor. On Earth, such deep-sea vents harbour microbial ecosystems rich in methanogenic archaea. Here we u…