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Detailed heat maps of the lunar surface revealed the south pole is warmer than previously thought. Temperature measurements show the region is at least minus 135 degrees Fahrenheit -- 63 degrees hotter than previously known. Cassini scientist John Spencer of the Southwest Research Institute said the high temperatures likely indicate that liquid water may lurk beneath the surface. Scientists generally agree the presence of water, organic compounds and a stable heat source are needed to support primitive life. Scientists not involved with the mission said while the discovery of organics is important in the search for extraterrestrial life, the fact that they resemble comet material casts doubt on whether liquid water is present. "Suppose they had seen complex organics ... That would be interpreted to mean that liquid water was present and that chemical reactions had gone forward toward forming life," said Bruce Jakosky, an astrobiologist at the University of Colorado. "That we don't see those things suggests that liquid water is not abundant or that energy sources are not present," he said. Related Links: |
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