Enceladus is the most habitable place after Earth

[cjp]

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8691

First quantitative evaluation of planetary habitability presented

A new study by the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo shows the first quantitative evaluation of planetary habitability. The study identifies some potential habitats in the solar system and also shows how the habitability of our planet has changed in the past, with some periods being even better than today.

The current SPH of our planet is close to 0.7, but it has been up to 0.9 during various paleoclimates, such as during the late Cretaceous period when the dinosaurs went extinct.

"Interestingly, Enceladus resulted as the object with the highest subsurface habitability in the solar system, but too deep for direct exploration. Mars and Europa resulted as the best compromise between habitability and accessibility.

 

[kneejo]

"All of these worlds are yours, except Europa.. do not attempt to land there"

 

[Jarvitä]

"All of these worlds are yours, except Europa.. do not attempt to land there"

Did you mean:

ALL THESE WORLDS
ARE YOURS EXCEPT
EUROPA
ATTEMPT NO
LANDINGS THERE

USE THEM TOGETHER
USE THEM IN PEACE

 

[tblaxland]

The article did not state habitability for what...

 

[Killer Toilet]

He obviously meant ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US.

Anyway, the most habitable place outside of Earth is 50 miles above Venus' surface. If we can manage to get a floating city of some kind that collects breathable air in some sort of giant balloon, then all that is needed is protection from acid rain. Pressure, temperature, AND gravity is almost identical to Earth. Even if the air balloon rips, it will not be hazardous due to it being of the same pressure as the outside gasses.

Venus is therefore the host hostile place outside of the Sun, and the most hospitable place outside of the Earth.

 

[ijuin]

Note also that since carbon dioxide composes the majority of Venus' atmosphere, Earth-like air (100 kPa, 20% oxygen, 79% nitrogen, 50% relative humidity) will provide significant lift, so there is no need for large bags of hydrogen or helium to hold up your habitat.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The article did not state habitability for what...

For a carbon-based life?

 

[cjp]

The article did not state habitability for what...

The comment below the picture mentions "most terrestrial microorganisms". So, yes, this is about carbon-based life. But OTOH it is not about human beings. I guess that for a typical carbon-based micro-organism, the presence of oxygen is actually a disadvantage.

Going off-topic a bit: How much lift does a standard atmosphere give on Venus @ 50km altitude? How does it compare to e.g. a Helium zeppelin on Earth?

Besides, remaining problems on Venus are radiation and the long day/night cycle.

 

[Andy44]

Venus would suck to live on. Ugly yellow fog everywhere you look, no features. Yuck. I'd go crazy. Rather take my chances on any other world.

 

[eveningsky339]

He obviously meant ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US.

Anyway, the most habitable place outside of Earth is 50 miles above Venus' surface. If we can manage to get a floating city of some kind that collects breathable air in some sort of giant balloon, then all that is needed is protection from acid rain. Pressure, temperature, AND gravity is almost identical to Earth. Even if the air balloon rips, it will not be hazardous due to it being of the same pressure as the outside gasses.

Venus is therefore the host hostile place outside of the Sun, and the most hospitable place outside of the Earth.

THEY SET US UP THE BOMB.

I've heard of Venus balloon scenarios, but I've always been in favor of Mars. However, launch windows are more common with Venus.

As for Enceladus... I'm surprised. It's not a very popular moon round these here parts. I wonder why they even bothered listing Titan.

---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 PM ----------

Venus would suck to live on. Ugly yellow fog everywhere you look, no features. Yuck. I'd go crazy. Rather take my chances on any other world.

People in Los Angeles don't seem to mind. :rofl:

 

[Killer Toilet]

Europa is still the most favorable moon for habitability other than The Moon.

But if there IS extraterrestrial life on it, then say hello to new diseases. Maybe landing there isn't such a good idea afterall...

 

[Andy44]

Europa is still the most favorable moon for habitability other than The Moon.

But if there IS extraterrestrial life on it, then say hello to new diseases. Maybe landing there isn't such a good idea afterall...

No guts, no new planets to live on.

 

[RisingFury]

But if there IS extraterrestrial life on it, then say hello to new diseases. Maybe landing there isn't such a good idea afterall...

Assuming that life would be anywhere near similar to life on Earth.

 

[eveningsky339]

No guts, no new planets to live on.

I would be more concerned about bringing new diseases to Europa. Reminds me of how the Native American population was wiped out by smallpox...

 

[kneejo]

THEY SET US UP THE BOMB.

About the bomb.. it is said, that nuclear weapons are capable of destroying the astral planes and the souls of those that have died. Most of those killed in Nagasaki and Hiroshima were obliterated after they died, before they had a chance to go to heaven (or hell). That's why 'they' have been keeping a close look on us for the past few decades. (don't try to think about this if you have only a scientific mind-set, it wouldn't make sense to u )

 

[T.Neo]

For a carbon-based life?

Even then, the range of habitability is very, very wide. Humans, for example, cannot survive at deep-sea vents, and, likewise, some deep-sea vent bacteria would die upon entering my living room.

But if there IS extraterrestrial life on it, then say hello to new diseases.

No. Even if the life was chemically almost identical to Terran life, to would not be pathogenic due to the fact that there would be no "higher" organisms for the life to evolve a pathogenic relationship with.

I would be more concerned about bringing new diseases to Europa. Reminds me of how the Native American population was wiped out by smallpox...

The same rules would apply here, unless there are organisms to infect.

 

[SiberianTiger]

About the bomb.. it is said, that nuclear weapons are capable of destroying the astral planes and the souls of those that have died. Most of those killed in Nagasaki and Hiroshima were obliterated after they died, before they had a chance to go to heaven (or hell). That's why 'they' have been keeping a close look on us for the past few decades. (don't try to think about this if you have only a scientific mind-set, it wouldn't make sense to u )

Which makes them especially useful against Islamic extremists. Every shahid must be properly informed about this scary effect! :rofl:

 

[TMac3000]

(don't try to think about this if you have only a scientific mind-set, it wouldn't make sense to u )

I have a spiritual mindset, and it doesn't make sense to me eitherh:

 

[kneejo]

I have a spiritual mindset, and it doesn't make sense to me eitherh:

I realize that now.. please forget whatever I said, or "they" will have to kill u..

 

[JamesG]

No. Even if the life was chemically almost identical to Terran life, to would not be pathogenic due to the fact that there would be no "higher" organisms for the life to evolve a pathogenic relationship with.

Depends. IF (Big if) there is life on Europa, it would as likely be as complex and diverse and that on Earth. Or at least there is nothing to rule it out. So there would as likely be Europan parasitic bacteria and viruses.

But fear not, because the most they could do is find a place to get stuck in your body or maybe cause an allergic reaction. Terrestrial microorganisms have evolved lock step with higher animals over time so that their protiens and enzimes are compatable. Alien life would have none of that and something as simple as their equivelent of DNA and RNA turning in the opposite direction would make it totally incompatable with our biochemestry. Europan food would make great diet food though. You could eat as much as you wanted but your body can't do anything with it.

I would be much more concerned about an Earth germ stowaway mutating in the radiation of space into something nasty.