LEXEN: Habitable Planets and Satellites in the Outer Solar System

与极端环境下生命的出现和生存相关的一个关键问题是宜居地带的划定。传统的研究主要集中在行星表面存在水，这是它们的主恒星提供辐射加热的结果。道格拉斯·林博士和他的同事将研究由于行星周围卫星的潮汐加热而持续存在的地下液态水层。通过对冥王星和卡戎之间潮汐相互作用的案例研究，这些研究人员将研究这一过程作为加热卫星内部的有效机制。一项系统的分析将用于验证一种假设，即冥卫一内部持续的能量耗散足以保存冰壳下的液态水。计划对天王星和它的卫星之间的潮汐相互作用进行类似的分析。该奖项是由美国国家科学基金会的“极端环境下的生命”特别竞赛颁发的，该竞赛由数学和物理科学理事会的天文科学部和多学科活动办公室参与。

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.