Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, highlights six prime locations in our solar system where primitive alien life could possibly exist.
The moon of Saturn, Enceladus, boasts geysers of frozen water, suggesting the presence of liquid water beneath its icy surface. Scientists speculate that the moon’s gravitational interactions with other moons might create habitable conditions. Enceladus has a mean radius of 156.6 miles (252.1 km).
Mars remains a focal point in the search for extraterrestrial life. Notably, dark stripes observed in Horowitz crater during Martian summers hint at salty meltwater just beneath the planet’s dusty exterior. Mars has a diameter of about 4,212 miles (6,779 km).
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, hosts liquid lakes composed of ethane and methane. Despite frigid temperatures, Titan’s chemical-rich environment makes it conducive to biological processes. Titan spans a diameter of 3,200 miles (5,150 km).
With vast subsurface oceans possibly containing more water than Earth’s oceans, Europa is a compelling candidate for harboring life. However, its icy crust presents challenges for exploration. Europa’s mean radius is 970 miles (1,560.8 km).
Despite its inhospitable surface conditions, Venus presents surprising possibilities for extraterrestrial life. High in the atmosphere, where temperatures are milder, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide may sustain airborne microbes. Venus has a diameter of 7,521 miles (12,104 km).
These moons of Jupiter share similarities with Europa, potentially harboring buried oceans beneath their surfaces. However, their oceans lie beneath thicker layers of rock, posing challenges for detection. Callisto’s diameter exceeds 2,985 miles (4,800 km), while Ganymede measures 3,270 miles (5,262.4 km) in diameter.
Identifying these locations underscores ongoing efforts to explore our solar system for signs of life beyond Earth, fueling excitement and curiosity within the scientific community.