A Glimpse into Cosmos

𝐉𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡

Exploring the possibility of life beyond Earth has been one of the most intriguing questions for scientists and the general public alike.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and has more than 79 moons orbiting it. Among these moons, Europa and Ganymede are two of the most promising candidates to harbour life beyond Earth.

Europa is slightly smaller than Earth's moon and is covered by a thick layer of ice, beneath which scientists believe there is a liquid ocean. This subsurface ocean is estimated to contain two to three times the volume of all the Earth's oceans combined. Recent observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope suggest that plumes of water vapour may be erupting from Europa's surface, providing evidence for the existence of this subsurface ocean.

Ganymede, on the other hand, is the largest moon in the solar system and is the only moon known to have its own magnetic field. Scientists believe that Ganymede has a rocky mantle and a subsurface ocean, similar to Europa. Additionally, Ganymede's surface contains regions of both dark and light terrain, suggesting a complex geological history.

Both Europa and Ganymede are considered prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life because they contain the three essential ingredients for life: liquid water, organic compounds, and a source of energy. NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in the 2020s, will conduct detailed investigations of Europa's surface and subsurface to determine if the moon is habitable for life as we know it.

The discovery of life on Jupiter's moons would be a monumental achievement for science and would revolutionize our understanding of the universe and our place in it. It would also have profound implications for the search for life elsewhere in the Cosmos.

PHOTO © NASA/JPL

A Glimpse into Cosmos

The red supergiant Betelgeuse

I often look up at night to see Betelgeuse. “Oh, you are still there,” I always say to myself, while smiling at one of the most fascinating celestial objects in the night sky.

Located in the constellation of Orion, it is a red supergiant star easily visible to the naked eye from Earth. Betelgeuse is a remarkable star in many ways, not least because it is one of the largest stars we know of, with a radius more than 1,000 times that of our sun. Despite its size, Betelgeuse is also one of the brightest stars in the sky, shining with a luminosity that is tens of thousands of times greater than that of our own sun.

However, Betelgeuse is also a star that has captured the attention of astronomers and stargazers alike because of its unusual behaviour in recent years. In late 2019, Betelgeuse began to dim significantly, leading many to speculate that it was on the brink of a catastrophic supernova explosion. Although it has since brightened again, this event provided a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the behaviour of red supergiants in unprecedented detail. With the help of telescopes and other instruments, scientists continue to monitor Betelgeuse to try and understand its unusual fluctuations in brightness.

Despite its relative proximity to Earth, Betelgeuse remains a mysterious object in many ways. Scientists are still trying to unravel the secrets of its unusual behaviour and what it might mean for the star's future. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating object to study, and its presence in the night sky is a reminder of the vast and mysterious universe that surrounds us. For stargazers and amateur astronomers alike, Betelgeuse is a celestial object that is well worth taking the time to observe and appreciate.

Photo © Getty Images/NASA

Photo © Atmosphere of Betelgeuse - Alpha Orionis, 

Hubble Space Telescope - Faint Object Camera, January 15, 1996; A. Dupree (CfA), NASA, ESA