Ocean Worlds: The Search for Life

Life as we know it requires three ingredients: energy, organic molecules, and liquid water. Astrobiology, our search for life beyond Earth, is a search for planets, dwarf planets, and moons that harbor substantial liquid water. We call these places “ocean worlds.”

We’re learning that ocean worlds could be ubiquitous in the galaxy. Just in our solar system, we have found evidence of oceans on Saturn’s moons Titan and Enceladus; Jupiter’s moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto; Neptune’s moon Triton; and on Pluto. We also believe that Venus and Mars may have had oceans billions of years ago. Could they have supported life?

NASA’s research on oceans also includes our own planet and helps us to better understand the role of Earth’s ocean in our planet’s climate system. As we learn more about our own oceans, we will better understand worlds beyond Earth.

Music: “Superluminal” by Lee Groves and Peter George Marett; “Earthrise,” “Prism Lights,” and “Uncertain Ahead” by Ben Niblett and Jon Cotton; “Infinite Sky” and “Human Architecture” by Andy Blythe and Marten Joustra; “Imagine If” by Paul Werner; via Universal Production Music

Video Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Producers:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
James Tralie (ADNET)

Editors:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
James Tralie (ADNET)

Videographers:
Rob Andreoli (AIMM)
John Caldwell (AIMM)

Public Affairs Officer:
Nancy Neal-Jones (NASA GSFC)

Lead Social Media Support:
Molly Wasser (ADNET)

Science Writer:
Lonnie Shekhtman (ADNET)

Graphic Designer:
Declan McKenna (URAA/NASA GSFC)
Interviewees:
Lucas Paganini, (NASA HQ)
Lynnae Quick, (NASA GSFC)
Melissa Trainer, (NASA GSFC)
Avi Mandell, (NASA GSFC)
Carrie Anderson, (NASA GSFC)

Animators:
Jonathan North (USRA)
Jennifer Lentz (HTSI)
Brian Monroe (USRA)
Chris Smith (USRA)
Bailee DesRocher (USRA)
Walt Feimer (KBRwyle)
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA)
Lisa Poje (Freelance)

Data Visualizers:
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Greg Bacon (STScI)

This video is public domain and along with other supporting visualizations can be downloaded from NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio at: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13693

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