Are Saturn's Moons Really Younger Than the Dinosaurs?

Emerging during the Triassic period, palaeontologists estimate that dinosaurs first walked the Earth around 231.4 million years ago. They reigned as dominant terrestrial vertebrates for 135 million years, running from the Jurassic period right up until the Cretaceous, when an unknown event plummeted them into extinction.

While scientists currently believe Saturn’s moons were formed long before the Triassic period, new research suggests that many of its 60 moons may have formed as recently as 100 million years ago. This would mean they materialised while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.

A ‘new moon’ for space scientists

Published in the Astrophysical Journal, the research has challenged existing perceptions of how moons are formed, and whether or not Saturn’s’ 60-strong fleet is capable of supporting life. From goliath Titan and geyser riddled Enceladus to crater pocked Phoebe and icy Rhea, scientists are now claiming that Saturn’s moons could be younger than originally thought.  

Until now, it’s been assumed that nearly all major moons in the solar system were formed from gas and dust clouds that engulf planets as they grow. This would make them 4.5 billion years old, the same age as their host planets. While planetary scientists believe some smaller asteroid and comet moons commenced orbit at a later date, larger masses are tagged at the same age as the solar system.  

Saturn’s youthful moons formed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth

However after closely observing the tidal relationships of Saturn’s major moons, scientists are suggesting that some moons could be as young as 100 million years old. They assert that the orbital influence of large moons such as Rhea, Tethys and Dione don’t align with the patterns that should have emerged if they’d existed for over 4 billion years. They also maintain that orbital change energy gains on Enceladus don’t line up with a 4.5-million-year lifespan. Instead, they suggest that its maximum age is around 100 million years, which would mean Enceladus was formed while dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

Saturn and its moons aren’t known for their habitable environments, with an atmosphere composed mostly of hydrogen. Wind speeds can reach 1000 mph, with hexagonal storms continually circling its North Pole. Venus’ sulphuric acid rain is another intergalactic phenomenon, however here on Earth the highly corrosive strong mineral acid doesn’t fall from the skies. Though it is a major manufacturing material, used in a variety of industries. For more information on its applications, ‘Quick and Easy Determination of Sulphuric Acid Content Using Refractometers’ explores detection methods for Abbemat refractometers.

Image via Flickr Creative Commons. Photo credits: Robbert van der Steeg