Research suggests Venus may have had water oceans billions of years ago. A land-ocean pattern was used in a climate model to show how storm clouds could have shielded ancient Venus from strong sunlight and made the planet habitable.
Research suggests Venus may have had water oceans billions of years ago. A land-ocean pattern was used in a climate model to show how storm clouds could have shielded ancient Venus from strong sunlight and made the planet habitable.
NASA
Jupiter's moon Europa, which has a subsurface ocean beneath an icy crust, has also been found to contain table salt. Tara Regio is the yellowish area to left of center where researchers identified an abundance of sodium chloride.
Jupiter's moon Europa, which has a subsurface ocean beneath an icy crust, has also been found to contain table salt. Tara Regio is the yellowish area to left of center where researchers identified an abundance of sodium chloride.
Jet Propulsion Labratory/California Institute of Technology/NASA
Europa has also been found to have plumes that eject water vapor and icy material.
Europa has also been found to have plumes that eject water vapor and icy material.
JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Michigan/NASA
An artistic impression of the Mars Express spacecraft probing the southern hemisphere of Mars. Radar detected a lake of liquid water beneath the surface.
An artistic impression of the Mars Express spacecraft probing the southern hemisphere of Mars. Radar detected a lake of liquid water beneath the surface.
USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Arizona State Univ., ESA, INAF. Graphic
Two meteorites, called Monahans and Zag, are the first discovered to contain the ingredients for life: liquid water, amino acids, hydrocarbons and other organic matter. The organic matter was found in purple and blue salt and potassium crystals that were part of the meteorites.
Two meteorites, called Monahans and Zag, are the first discovered to contain the ingredients for life: liquid water, amino acids, hydrocarbons and other organic matter. The organic matter was found in purple and blue salt and potassium crystals that were part of the meteorites.
Dr. Queenie Hoi Shan Chan
NASA's Cassini mission has evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Titan</a>, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.
NASA's Cassini mission has evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, Titan, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science I
NASA is exploring the ocean worlds in our solar system as part of the search for life outside of Earth.
NASA is exploring the ocean worlds in our solar system as part of the search for life outside of Earth.
NASA
Life as we know it is carbon-based and requires liquid water. About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, making life possible.
Life as we know it is carbon-based and requires liquid water. About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, making life possible.
NASA
The Eagle lunar module of Apollo 11 ascends from the surface of Earth's moon in 1969. The <a target="_blank" target="_blank">presence of water on the moon</a> has been confirmed by scientists.
The Eagle lunar module of Apollo 11 ascends from the surface of Earth's moon in 1969. The presence of water on the moon has been confirmed by scientists.
NASA/Michael Collins
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and very hot, but its polar regions may have <a target="_blank" target="_blank">water ice and other frozen volatile materials</a>, according to NASA studies.
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and very hot, but its polar regions may have water ice and other frozen volatile materials, according to NASA studies.
NASA
Water still flows across the surface of Mars from time to time, NASA scientists said in 2015. In the photo above, dark, narrow streaks called recurring slope lineae are seen flowing downhill on Mars. Scientists have inferred that they were formed by contemporary flowing water.
Water still flows across the surface of Mars from time to time, NASA scientists said in 2015. In the photo above, dark, narrow streaks called recurring slope lineae are seen flowing downhill on Mars. Scientists have inferred that they were formed by contemporary flowing water.
NASA/JPL/UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA/AFP/Getty Images
Dwarf planet Ceres, composed of rock and ice, is the largest object in the asteroid belt. <br />
Dwarf planet Ceres, composed of rock and ice, is the largest object in the asteroid belt.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/ID
In this artist's concept, the moon Ganymede, right, orbits the giant planet Jupiter. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed auroras on the moon generated by Ganymede's magnetic fields. A saline ocean under the moon's icy crust best explains shifting in the auroral belts measured by Hubble.
In this artist's concept, the moon Ganymede, right, orbits the giant planet Jupiter. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed auroras on the moon generated by Ganymede's magnetic fields. A saline ocean under the moon's icy crust best explains shifting in the auroral belts measured by Hubble.
NASA/ESA
The trailing hemisphere (the side that faces away from its direction of motion) of Jupiter's moon Europa was captured by the Galileo spacecraft. The left image shows Europa in approximately true color and the right image shows Europa in enhanced color to bring out details. NASA data suggest that Europa has a subsurface ocean.
The trailing hemisphere (the side that faces away from its direction of motion) of Jupiter's moon Europa was captured by the Galileo spacecraft. The left image shows Europa in approximately true color and the right image shows Europa in enhanced color to bring out details. NASA data suggest that Europa has a subsurface ocean.
NASA/NSSDC
Voyager 1 captured this image of Jupiter's moon Callisto. Scientists have detected ice and carbon dioxide on its surface.
Voyager 1 captured this image of Jupiter's moon Callisto. Scientists have detected ice and carbon dioxide on its surface.
NASA
Gravity measurements by NASA's Cassini spacecraft and Deep Space Network indicate that Saturn's moon Enceladus, which has jets of water vapor and ice gushing from its south pole, also harbors a large interior ocean beneath an ice shell, as this illustration depicts.
Gravity measurements by NASA's Cassini spacecraft and Deep Space Network indicate that Saturn's moon Enceladus, which has jets of water vapor and ice gushing from its south pole, also harbors a large interior ocean beneath an ice shell, as this illustration depicts.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mimas, the smallest and closest of Saturn's eight main moons, is heavily cratered and has a low density that suggests it is mostly <a target="_blank" target="_blank">composed of water ice</a>. The moon's main 88-mile-long crater makes it resemble "Death Star" from "Star Wars Episode IV." <br />
Mimas, the smallest and closest of Saturn's eight main moons, is heavily cratered and has a low density that suggests it is mostly composed of water ice. The moon's main 88-mile-long crater makes it resemble "Death Star" from "Star Wars Episode IV."
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Neptune's largest moon, Triton, is so cold that its surface is composed mainly of nitrogen ice. <br />
Neptune's largest moon, Triton, is so cold that its surface is composed mainly of nitrogen ice.
NASA/JPL/USGS
An artist's concept shows Pluto and its moons. Pluto's moon Charon has cracks that suggest it once had underground water.
An artist's concept shows Pluto and its moons. Pluto's moon Charon has cracks that suggest it once had underground water.
NASA/Johns Hopkins University