LEXEN: Habitable Planets and Satellites in the Outer Solar System

AST-9714275管路 与极端环境下生命的出现和生存有关的一个关键问题是划定可居住区。 传统的研究主要集中在行星表面是否存在水，这是由其宿主恒星提供的辐射加热造成的。 道格拉斯林博士和他的同事们将研究由于行星周围卫星的潮汐加热而导致的地表下液态水层的持续存在。 通过对冥王星和冥卫一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。 一个系统的分析将进行测试的假设，持续的能量耗散卡戎是足够的保存液态水在其冰壳。 计划对天王星及其卫星之间的潮汐相互作用进行类似的分析。 该奖项是通过美国国家科学基金会关于极端环境中生命的特别竞赛颁发的，天文科学司和数学和物理科学局多学科活动办公室参加了该竞赛。

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.