Planets and Moons ID: 13693

Ocean Worlds: The Search for Life

Released on August 17, 2020

NASA scientists discuss the search for life on the ocean worlds of our solar system and beyond.

Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.

Universal Production Music: “Superluminal” by Lee Groves and Peter George Marett; “Earthrise,” “Prism Lights,” and “Uncertain Ahead” by Ben Niblett and Jon Cotton; “Infinite Sky” and “Human Architecture” by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra; “Imagine If” by Paul Werner

Life as we know it requires three ingredients: energy, organic molecules, and liquid water. Our search for life beyond Earth is a search for planets, dwarf planets, and moons that harbor substantial liquid water. We call these places “ocean worlds.”

We’re learning that ocean worlds could be ubiquitous in the galaxy. Just in our solar system, we have found evidence of oceans on Saturn’s moons Titan and Enceladus; Jupiter’s moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto; Neptune’s moon Triton; and on Pluto. We also believe that Venus and Mars may have had oceans billions of years ago. Could they have supported life?

NASA’s research on oceans also includes our own planet and helps us to better understand the role of Earth’s ocean in our planet’s climate system. As we learn more about our own oceans, we will better understand worlds beyond Earth. Discover more about ocean worlds.

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Source Material

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NASA.gov

Credits

Producers:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
James Tralie (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Editors:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
James Tralie (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Videographers:
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
John Caldwell (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Public Affairs Officer:
Nancy Neal-Jones (NASA/GSFC)

Lead Social Media Support:
Molly Wasser (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Graphic Designer:
Declan McKenna (NASA/GSFC URAA)

Science Writer:
Lonnie Shekhtman (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

Interviewees:
Lucas Paganini (NASA/HQ)
Lynnae Quick (NASA/GSFC)
Melissa Trainer (NASA/GSFC)
Avi Mandell (NASA/GSFC)
Carrie Anderson (NASA/GSFC)

Animators:
Jonathan North (USRA)
Jennifer Lentz (HTSI)
Brian Monroe (USRA)
Chris Smith (USRA)
Bailee DesRocher (USRA)
Walt Feimer (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA)
Lisa Poje (Freelance)

Data Visualizers:
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Greg Bacon (STScI)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center