Cassini Finds Oxygen on Dione

Dione

Cassini probe, launched by NASA and the space agencies of Europe and Italy, passed near Dione; one of Saturn's moons, in April 2010. After analyzing the data acquired by Cassini, NASA recently uncovered the fact that Dione has an atmosphere with oxygen, but in small amounts. Scientists say that the atmosphere one would encounter there would be similar to the conditions at 300 miles (483 kilometers) above Earth. With an average temperature of -121°F (-186°C) and the ultra-thin oxygen layer, Dione would not be a place for us to live. But it further clarifies the fact that a considerable number of moons (satellites) with oxygen atmospheres exists around planets like Saturn and Jupiter. It also shows us the possibility of the existence of extraterrestrial life, most probably as microbial life forms, within our solar system.

How Dione got Oxygen

Scientists say; the reason for the availability of oxygen in the atmosphere of Dione, could be due to the impact of solar photons and energy particles from Saturn's magnetic field, with the chilly ice layer of Dione. Due to these bombarding's, the Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms in ice escape into the atmosphere.

About Cassini

Cassini probe was named after Giovanni Cassini, an astronomer who discovered Dione in 1684. Cassini was sent out on mission in 1997, and it made its arrival at Saturn in 2004. Cassini would serve the mankind probably until 2017.