Scientists have determined where to look for life beyond Earth

Volcanoes higher than Everest, oceans hidden under ice, and methane seas - all this is not science fiction, but real satellites of planets in the Solar System. According to Perm Polytech lecturer Evgeny Burmistrova, they are the main candidates for the presence of extraterrestrial life and even future colonization. This was reported to "Gazeta.Ru" by the press service of Perm Polytech.

In total, more than 250 satellites are known, and most belong to gas giants: Saturn has 146, Jupiter has 95. Earth is content with the Moon, while Venus and Mercury have none at all. The number depends on the mass of the planet and the distance to the Sun: large and distant planets attract icy bodies, while those close to the star do not.

Satellites can form through collision (like the Moon), be captured asteroids (many of Jupiter's satellites), or form together with the planet (like Ganymede). Small satellites are often irregularly shaped, like the "potato" Phobos or the "sponge" Hyperion.

Some are truly amazing. Io is the most volcanically active object in the system. Europa and Enceladus are covered with ice, under which hide salty oceans with geysers that eject water and organic matter into space. All this makes them potential habitats for life.

But Titan - Saturn's satellite - is considered the most suitable for colonization. It has a dense atmosphere, methane rain, hydrocarbon seas, and ice from which water and oxygen can be obtained. Energy production is even possible there - from wind and chemical reactions.

Some satellites behave unstably. Triton rotates "backwards" and was probably captured by Neptune. Phobos is slowly falling onto Mars. The Moon, on the contrary, is moving away from Earth at 4 cm per year - this could affect the climate and life on the planet in the future.

The study of satellites continues. Space missions have already been sent to Europa and Ganymede. Scientists hope they will help answer one of humanity's main questions - whether we are alone in the Universe.