Cassini finds Oxygen atmosphere on Saturn Moon

Cassini finds Oxygen atmosphere on Saturn Moon

It would appear that an Oxygen atmosphere is more common than some people have thought, scientists have already found Oxygen on Europa and Ganymede and now with the recent discovery that Saturn's icy moon Rhea contains an Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide atmosphere, it would appear that the gas is much more common than first thought (reported by the leading journal Science).

Rhea is an icy body of low density, suggesting the composition of 25% Rock to 75% ice water, it's also the 9th largest moon in our solar system. A heavily cratered surface with two very large impact basins (about 400-500 km wide).

What is more intriguing though is the presence of carbon dioxide, most often created as a chemical reaction between organic molecules and oxidants. Does this mean there could be life on Rhea?