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Hidden Ocean Found on Saturn Moon

Posted Mar 21, 08 4:13 AM CDT in Science & Health 

(Newser) – NASA has unlocked two more of the solar system's secrets, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The Cassini orbiter discovered evidence of an underground ocean churning deep below the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and the Mars Odyssey spacecraft has found ancient salt deposits on the red planet. Both discoveries have scientists excited about fresh possibilities of finding extraterrestrial life.

The salt deposits on Mars, possibly formed by groundwater, could preserve evidence of Martian life from billions of years ago. But it is Titan that most intrigues astronomers: if the predictions about an underground ocean are right, the moon—which resembles Earth in its early days—would have the building blocks for life. "We've got to go back again with balloons and rovers and really understand this place, a scientist said.

Sources Orlando Sentinel, BBC

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NASA's Cassini spacecraft has revealed more details of Titan's surface, and what lies beneath.   (Getty Images)
This undated artist drawing released by NASA shows the Mars Science Laboratory, a mobile robot for investigating Mars' past or present ability to sustain microbial life.   (AP Photo/NASA, HO)
This photo released by NASA/JPL, acquired by the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Jan. 29, 2008, shows Saturn's frigid moon Titan as it approaches the brilliant limb of Saturn.   (AP Photo/NASA, JPL, Space Science Institute)
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