Enceladus Has Global Ocean

Thanks to the Cassini spacecraft, it is believed that Saturn's largest moon, Enceladus has a global ocean. Cassini detected a slight wobble in the moon indicating that liquid underneath the moon's icy crust is present and moving.  An ocean under the surface increases the odds of finding life. This ocean under the crust of Enceladus maintains its liquid form due to Saturn's gravitational pull which creates friction and keeps the ocean from freezing.  The presence of jets spewing vapor into space is further evidence that this is the case.






Source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150915155309.htm

http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/15/enceladus-global-ocean/

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/15/9333821/nasa-enceladus-subsurface-ocean

http://news.discovery.com/space/cassini-watches-enceladus-fizz-into-space-150825.htm

Asteroid 2015 HDI Passing by Earth

Asteroid 2015 HDI is expected to pass by Earth today at 3:11 a.m.  There is no cause for alarm. The asteroid is not expected to hit us.  Asteroid 2015 HDI is about 50 feet wide and will pass by at 0.2 lunar distances or about 46,000 miles over us.

If it was on a collision course with Earth, then there will be no life ending catastrophe occurring.  The asteroid is too small and would lose its battle with Earth's atmosphere and gravity as it is pulled in.

The force around the asteroid will tear it apart into smaller meteorites that will just light up the sky. Asteroids like 2015 HDI pass by Earth all the time granted not as close.  While Earth's gravity is strong, it cannot compensate for the speed at with these asteroids travel.  Moreover, the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn etc actually protect the Earth by "hurling" these space rocks away from us.

Amateur astronomers can view astroid 2015 HDI with an 8 inch or bigger telescope as it passes by the constellations Hydra, Antlia and Puppis with a magnitude of +13.2.  Enjoy the cosmic wonders if the weather in your area permits it.  




Source:



http://www.universetoday.com/119938/close-encounter-of-the-asteroid-kind-2015-hd1-skims-by-earth-tonight/

http://astronomynow.com/2015/01/17/asteroid-to-fly-close-by-earth-safely-on-26thjanuary/