LEXEN: Habitable Planets and Satellites in the Outer Solar System

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AST-9714275 Lin A key issue associated with emergence and survival of life under extreme environments is the delineation of habitable zones. Conventional investigations have focused on the existence of water on the surface of planets as a consequence of radiative heating provided by their host stars. Dr. Douglas Lin and coworkers will examine the persistent existence of a sub-surface liquid water layer as a consequence of tidal heating in satellites around planets. Through a case study of the tidal interaction between Pluto and Charon, these researchers will examine this process as an effective mechanism for heating satellite interiors. A systematic analysis will be carried out to test the hypothesis that the persistent energy dissipation within Charon is adequate to preserve liquid water below its ice crust. A similar analysis is planned for the tidal interaction between Uranus and its satellites. This award is made through the NSF's special competition on Life in Extreme Environments, with participation by the Division of Astronomical Sciences and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.