1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,760 Okay, so picture this. 2 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:04,160 You're at some kind of cosmic racetrack 3 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:05,920 and you're watching all these moons 4 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:07,120 going around their planets. 5 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:07,960 Okay. 6 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:09,200 Most of them following the rules, right? 7 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,640 They're all going in the same direction 8 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:11,760 as their planet spins. 9 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:12,680 Makes sense. 10 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:14,320 But then you see Triton. 11 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:15,160 Oh. 12 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,480 Neptune's largest moon. 13 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:18,320 Okay. 14 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:19,200 And it's going in reverse. 15 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:20,040 Whoa. 16 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,680 Like some kind of cosmic rebel. 17 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,680 That's wild, like a car going the wrong way on the track. 18 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:26,080 Exactly. 19 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:27,440 Welcome to Cosmos and applaud 20 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,840 the Space and Astronomy series. 21 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:29,760 Good to be here. 22 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,320 And Triton's backward orbit is just the tip of the iceberg, 23 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:34,240 I guess you could say. 24 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:35,440 Oh, I love the pun. 25 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,120 This icy world is a total enigma. 26 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:39,840 It's got nitrogen geysers. 27 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:40,680 Really? 28 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,760 And there are theories about a hidden ocean 29 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,080 under all that ice. 30 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,300 That's incredible. 31 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:46,960 So much to uncover. 32 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:47,880 So in this deep dive, 33 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,840 we're going to explore what makes Triton so unique. 34 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,060 How did it end up in this crazy orbit? 35 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:55,400 What's happening beneath that icy surface? 36 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:56,240 Yeah. 37 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,840 And could there be more to this moon than we even realize? 38 00:00:58,840 --> 00:00:59,720 Well, that backward motion, 39 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,320 what we call a retrograde orbit, is our first clue. 40 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,160 Oh, how so? 41 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,560 It's super rare for a large moon. 42 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:06,400 I see. 43 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:07,760 So scientists think Triton wasn't originally 44 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,160 formed around Neptune. 45 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,180 So where did it come from? 46 00:01:10,180 --> 00:01:12,560 We think it was actually captured from the Kuiper Belt. 47 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:13,400 The Kuiper Belt. 48 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:14,320 That's way out there, right? 49 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:15,280 Beyond Neptune. 50 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:16,120 Exactly. 51 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:17,880 It's a region full of icy objects 52 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,560 like comets and dwarf planets. 53 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,840 So instead of forming with Neptune, 54 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,920 Triton was kind of like adopted by it. 55 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:25,040 That's a great way to put it. 56 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,840 Just imagine this massive object, 57 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,080 bigger than Pluto, drifting through space, and then bam. 58 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:31,640 Neptune's gravity snagged it. 59 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:32,480 Exactly. 60 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,040 And that capture would have been chaotic. 61 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,080 Probably messed up Neptune's original moons. 62 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,880 Maybe even flung some of them right out of the system. 63 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,120 Oh, talk about a dramatic entrance. 64 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,820 But besides its crazy backstory, 65 00:01:44,820 --> 00:01:46,500 what else makes Triton stand out? 66 00:01:46,500 --> 00:01:48,900 What makes it different from other moons? 67 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:51,420 Well, its surface is truly one of a kind. 68 00:01:51,420 --> 00:01:54,160 Incredibly active, but not with the fiery volcanoes 69 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:55,120 we see on Earth. 70 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,320 So what kind of activity are we talking about? 71 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:58,840 Triton has cryovolcanoes. 72 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,840 They erupt with icy materials like water and ammonia. 73 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,440 So instead of molten rock, they're spewing ice. 74 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:06,480 That's wild. 75 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:07,960 How high did those plumes go? 76 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:09,940 We're talking kilometers high, 77 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:11,920 creating these crazy landscapes 78 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:14,200 unlike anything we see on other moons. 79 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,200 And then there are the nitrogen geysers. 80 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,640 Nitrogen geysers, like fountains of gas. 81 00:02:18,640 --> 00:02:19,480 Exactly. 82 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,200 They erupt from the surface too, 83 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,280 and it shows us that Triton has a lot of internal heat. 84 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,120 Makes sense. 85 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,000 I mean, all that activity has to come from somewhere. 86 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:28,840 Right. 87 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,400 And that heat is likely caused 88 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,360 by the gravitational push and pull 89 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,040 between Triton and Neptune. 90 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:34,880 Wow. 91 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,560 So we've got ice volcanoes, nitrogen geysers, 92 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,840 and what else could this moon possibly have in store for us? 93 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,480 Well, you've heard of craters on the moon, 94 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,760 but have you ever heard of cantaloupe terrain? 95 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:47,800 Cantaloupe terrain? 96 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,000 What in the world is that? 97 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:49,840 I'm serious. 98 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,760 Triton's surface has these strange, lumpy features 99 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,720 that look like the skin of a cantaloupe. 100 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:55,560 You're kidding. 101 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:56,400 I've got to see pictures of this. 102 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,140 Oh, they're out there and you won't be disappointed. 103 00:02:58,140 --> 00:03:00,660 Scientists are still figuring out exactly how they formed. 104 00:03:00,660 --> 00:03:02,120 What are the leading theories? 105 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,360 Well, it could be connected to the cryovolcanism 106 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,280 or maybe even some processes happening beneath the surface. 107 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,980 This is already blowing my mind. 108 00:03:08,980 --> 00:03:13,880 Cantaloupe terrain, ice volcanoes, nitrogen geysers. 109 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,020 Triton is sounding less like a moon 110 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:18,080 and more like something straight out of science fiction. 111 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:19,160 Right. 112 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:20,520 But with all that icy activity, 113 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,120 is there any chance for something even more mind blowing? 114 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:26,680 Like life. 115 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,820 Okay, now that's where it gets really intriguing. 116 00:03:28,820 --> 00:03:30,420 While the surface is frigid, 117 00:03:30,420 --> 00:03:31,880 there's evidence suggesting Triton 118 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,520 might have a hidden ocean under all that ice. 119 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,460 Seriously, an ocean? 120 00:03:36,460 --> 00:03:38,640 But how is that possible with temperatures that low? 121 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,280 It's all about tidal heating. 122 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,780 The gravitational dance between Neptune and Triton 123 00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:45,960 creates friction inside the moon and generates heat. 124 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,160 Ah, so it's like the moon is warming itself up 125 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,000 from the inside. 126 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:49,840 Precisely. 127 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,040 And scientists think this heat could melt some of the ice 128 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,200 deep down creating a liquid water ocean. 129 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,960 Okay, so we might have a hidden ocean, 130 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,920 but is that enough for life to exist? 131 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,720 It's definitely a promising start. 132 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,360 Liquid water is essential for life as we know it. 133 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,360 And if Triton's ocean is anything like 134 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,200 what we think exists on moons like Europa and Enceladus. 135 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,320 Those are the moons with the confirmed oceans, right? 136 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:10,160 Yep. 137 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,600 And they might contain other key ingredients too, 138 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,560 like organic molecules and sources of energy. 139 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,640 So you're saying that under Triton's frozen wasteland, 140 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:20,520 there could be a hidden oasis. 141 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:21,400 That's incredible. 142 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:22,280 It really is. 143 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,000 Of course, life on Triton would face some serious challenges. 144 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,880 Extreme cold and pressure in a subsurface ocean. 145 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:29,720 That makes sense. 146 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:30,540 Yeah. 147 00:04:30,540 --> 00:04:31,380 It would be a very different environment 148 00:04:31,380 --> 00:04:32,480 than what we're used to. 149 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:33,300 For sure. 150 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:35,200 But life is incredibly adaptable. 151 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,760 Just look at the extreme environments here on Earth. 152 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,560 True, we found life in boiling hot springs, 153 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,760 freezing cold glaciers, and even miles deep in the ocean. 154 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:44,600 Exactly. 155 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,000 So who knows what might be working in the depths 156 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,440 of Triton's hidden ocean. 157 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,440 Okay, my mind is officially blown. 158 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,120 This is already changing the way I think about moons. 159 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,920 But before we get too carried away with all the possibilities, 160 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,480 let's compare Triton to some of its more famous 161 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,000 lunar cousins. 162 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,240 How does it stack up against moons like Europa and Titan? 163 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:04,720 Okay, that's a great way to understand 164 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,240 where Triton fits in. 165 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,100 First off, size-wise, it's the seventh largest moon 166 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:10,560 in our solar system. 167 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:11,840 It's even bigger than Cluto. 168 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:12,920 Europa is a bit smaller, 169 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,000 and Titan is significantly larger. 170 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,000 So Triton's definitely in the heavyweight division of moons. 171 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,120 What about the other features? 172 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:20,240 How do they compare? 173 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Well, we've already established that Triton's 174 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,520 retrograde orbit makes it unique. 175 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,320 Europa and Titan both orbit in the same direction 176 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:28,520 as their planets. 177 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:29,520 Right. 178 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,280 When it comes to surface features, 179 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:33,940 Triton's cryovolcanoes and nitrogen geysers 180 00:05:33,940 --> 00:05:35,440 are pretty unique. 181 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:36,260 Okay. 182 00:05:36,260 --> 00:05:38,160 Europa's mostly smooth and icy, 183 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,560 with cracks hinting at the ocean below, 184 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,280 while Titan has a thick atmosphere with methane lakes 185 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:44,840 and rivers on its surface. 186 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:48,160 Wow, so each moon really has its own personality. 187 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,000 But what about the potential for those subsurface oceans? 188 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,920 That's where it gets really exciting. 189 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,420 While Triton's ocean is still hypothetical, 190 00:05:55,420 --> 00:05:56,800 scientists are pretty confident 191 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,840 that Europa has a vast global ocean beneath its icy shell. 192 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:01,980 And what about Titan? 193 00:06:01,980 --> 00:06:04,160 Titan's also thought to have a subsurface ocean, 194 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,020 but it's probably a mix of water and ammonia. 195 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:08,680 So a bit different from Earth's oceans. 196 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:09,520 Definitely. 197 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,280 So it seems like subsurface oceans might be more common 198 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,360 in our solar system than we originally thought. 199 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,600 It's starting to look that way. 200 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:17,640 What does that tell us 201 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,000 about the possibility of life beyond Earth? 202 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,880 It suggests that the ingredients for life 203 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,800 might be more widespread than we once believed, 204 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,760 and that life itself could exist 205 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,560 in a much wider range of environments than we ever imagined. 206 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:31,840 That's an incredible thought. 207 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:32,780 It really is. 208 00:06:32,780 --> 00:06:35,800 And each of these moons is like a unique laboratory 209 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,480 for studying the potential for life beyond Earth. 210 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:39,780 Like we're getting a sneak peek 211 00:06:39,780 --> 00:06:41,440 into all these different possibilities 212 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:42,960 for life in the universe. 213 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,080 Exactly. 214 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:45,920 And each one holds the possibility 215 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,760 of rewriting our understanding of the cosmos. 216 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:49,920 This is amazing. 217 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,800 We've gone from a rebellious moon with a wild past 218 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,480 to the mind blowing possibility 219 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,180 of hidden oceans and alien life. 220 00:06:57,180 --> 00:06:59,680 Triton has truly captured our imaginations. 221 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:00,840 It really has. 222 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:02,240 And we're just getting started. 223 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:03,960 But before we continue our exploration 224 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,320 of this enigmatic moon, we need to take a quick break. 225 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:07,140 Sounds good. 226 00:07:07,140 --> 00:07:08,440 When we return, we'll delve deeper 227 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,600 into the mysteries of Triton's origins. 228 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,640 It's a potential for harboring life 229 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,400 and the future of exploration for this icy world. 230 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Stay tuned. 231 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,040 Can't wait. 232 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:19,480 Welcome back to our deep dive 233 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,900 into Triton Neptune's mysterious moon. 234 00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:23,760 We've already learned so much about Triton. 235 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,640 Like it's a real rule breaker with that backward orbit, 236 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,280 the crea volcanoes and that possible hidden ocean. 237 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,320 But how did it even get there? 238 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,040 How did a world like that end up way out there 239 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,140 orbiting Neptune in reverse? 240 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:38,920 That's the million dollar question, isn't it? 241 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:41,340 Scientists have been puzzled by it for a long time. 242 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:43,740 The most likely theory is that Triton was born 243 00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:45,840 in the Kuiper Belt far beyond Neptune. 244 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,560 Ah, so it's not a native of Neptune's system. 245 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:49,560 Exactly. 246 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,240 But the journey from the Kuiper Belt to where it is now, 247 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:53,640 that's still a bit of a mystery. 248 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,840 So we've got this rogue moon, bigger than Pluto, 249 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,960 just cruising through the outer solar system 250 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,620 and then somehow Neptune snags it. 251 00:08:01,620 --> 00:08:04,000 How does a planet even catch a moon that size? 252 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,640 It's kind of like cosmic billiards, 253 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,620 but with way higher stakes. 254 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:09,400 Imagine the gravitational forces needed 255 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,220 to capture something as massive as Triton. 256 00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:12,160 It's mind boggling. 257 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,880 One theory is that Triton maybe had a companion object. 258 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:16,840 A companion, like another icy body. 259 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:17,680 Yeah. 260 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,400 Imagine these two objects traveling together 261 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,000 through the Kuiper Belt and then they encounter Neptune. 262 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,980 Oh, so it's like a pair of cosmic dance partners. 263 00:08:24,980 --> 00:08:26,260 Uh-huh, exactly. 264 00:08:26,260 --> 00:08:27,360 But as they get closer, 265 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:29,920 Neptune's gravity starts messing with their dance. 266 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,680 Like Neptune cut in and stole a partner. 267 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:32,520 You got it. 268 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,120 So in this gravitational tug of war, 269 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:35,500 Triton's companion could have been 270 00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:37,120 flung out of the system entirely. 271 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:38,520 Lost to space forever. 272 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,160 Or even more dramatic, it could have collided with Neptune. 273 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,280 Whoa, a cosmic collision. 274 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:44,880 Yeah, it would have been a huge event 275 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,600 releasing tons of energy. 276 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,720 I'm glad we weren't around for that. 277 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:48,560 Me too. 278 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,680 But anyway, after all that chaos, 279 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:54,600 Triton ended up captured by Neptune's gravity. 280 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,240 But its orbit was messed up, 281 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,200 leaving it on that backward path we see today. 282 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,360 Wow, so Triton's weird orbit is like a scar 283 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:03,840 for this ancient cosmic event. 284 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:04,760 That's a great way to put it. 285 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,160 It makes you wonder what other secrets it's holding. 286 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaking of secrets, 287 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,000 we've been talking about that possible subsurface ocean. 288 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,760 But could anything really survive down there? 289 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,280 It sounds pretty extreme. 290 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:16,200 That's the big question, right? 291 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,240 I mean, yeah, it's cold and there's a lot of pressure, 292 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:19,680 but life finds a way. 293 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:21,160 Like those extremophiles on Earth? 294 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:22,160 Exactly. 295 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,680 We find life in all sorts of crazy places here. 296 00:09:24,680 --> 00:09:26,920 Like deep sea vents where it's boiling hot 297 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,360 and there's no sunlight. 298 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,880 And super salty lakes and acidic pools. 299 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,560 Right, so it's not impossible that life could exist 300 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:36,080 on Triton even with those harsh conditions. 301 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:37,520 So there's hope. 302 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,920 And if Triton's ocean is similar to the ones we think 303 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,560 are on Europa and Enceladus, 304 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:44,000 it might have what life needs. 305 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,440 Right, like water organic molecules 306 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,680 and maybe even some energy sources. 307 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:50,880 But how would there be energy in an ocean 308 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,880 buried under miles of ice? 309 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,760 Sunlight can't reach that deep. 310 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,960 Nope, definitely not. 311 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,960 But there could be other sources. 312 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,560 Like remember the tidal heating 313 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:02,960 that might be melting the ice to create the ocean? 314 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:03,800 Yeah. 315 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,600 Well, that could also provide energy for life. 316 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,280 So the same forces that create the ocean 317 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,280 could also be feeding life within it. 318 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:10,120 It's possible. 319 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,560 And we can't forget about chemical energy sources 320 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:14,360 like we see at those deep sea vents on Earth. 321 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,360 Ah, so even in the pitch black of Triton's ocean, 322 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:18,760 there could be little pockets of life 323 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,920 powered by the moon's own heat and chemistry. 324 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:22,680 That's what we're hoping to find out. 325 00:10:22,680 --> 00:10:25,160 It makes you really appreciate the importance 326 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,160 of exploring these icy worlds. 327 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,160 It's like opening up a whole new chapter 328 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:31,760 in the search for life beyond Earth. 329 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,920 So what are the chances of us going back to Triton? 330 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,920 Are there any missions in the works? 331 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,600 There's definitely growing interest 332 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,200 in going back to Triton to solve some of its mysteries. 333 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:44,880 One of the most promising proposals 334 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,040 is NASA's Trident mission. 335 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,520 Trident, like the three pronged spear. 336 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:50,520 You got it. 337 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,400 Named after the weapon of Neptune, 338 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,200 the Roman god of the sea. 339 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:55,320 Very fitting. 340 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,800 So what's the plan for the Trident mission? 341 00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,480 It's being designed as a flyby mission. 342 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,040 So it would use a bunch of instruments 343 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,560 to study Triton's surface, its atmosphere, 344 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:05,560 and that possible subsurface ocean. 345 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:06,760 So it's not going to land. 346 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,680 It's just going to zoom past and gather data. 347 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:09,560 Yeah. 348 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:11,120 But even though it's a flyby, it'll 349 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,560 be packed with advanced tech. 350 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:13,280 Like what? 351 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:14,720 Well, for one, it would have cameras 352 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,000 that can take super high resolution images 353 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:17,920 of the surface. 354 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:19,880 So we can finally get a good look at those cantaloupe 355 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:20,240 terrains. 356 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:20,880 Exactly. 357 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,240 And the cryovolcanoes and anything else 358 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:24,680 that might be hiding down there. 359 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:26,720 I'm already excited to see those pictures. 360 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,800 What else would Trident be looking for? 361 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,480 It would also have instruments to study 362 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,240 Triton's thin atmosphere. 363 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:33,600 What could we learn from that? 364 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,080 By analyzing the composition of the atmosphere, 365 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:37,840 we can learn more about Triton's history 366 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,720 and maybe even find traces of organic molecules. 367 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,200 Which could point to life. 368 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,160 Exactly. 369 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:43,880 Wow. 370 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,240 So Trident could potentially detect hints of life 371 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:48,160 from space. 372 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:48,920 That's amazing. 373 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:49,440 Yeah. 374 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:50,840 But what about the ocean? 375 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,560 How would it study something that's miles beneath the ice? 376 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:54,960 Good question. 377 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,920 Trident would use a technique called radar sounding 378 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,880 to basically see beneath the surface. 379 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:01,480 So it's like an x-ray for a moon. 380 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:02,240 Kinda. 381 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,800 By bouncing radar signals off the subsurface layers, 382 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,080 we can create a map of Triton's insides 383 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,920 and see if that liquid water ocean is really down there. 384 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,080 So even without landing, Trident could give us 385 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,160 a glimpse into the heart of Triton 386 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,520 and tell us if it's hiding a secret ocean. 387 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:18,740 That sounds groundbreaking. 388 00:12:18,740 --> 00:12:20,520 It would be a huge step forward. 389 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,860 And it's just one of the many missions being considered. 390 00:12:22,860 --> 00:12:25,040 There's also a lot of interest in developing tech 391 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,120 that could explore those subsurface oceans directly. 392 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:28,680 Whoa. 393 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:31,360 Like sending a probe through the ice and into the ocean? 394 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:32,400 Yeah. 395 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,280 It would be a massive engineering challenge, 396 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:35,640 but it would be an incredible way 397 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,520 to explore those hidden worlds. 398 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,720 Imagine seeing what's down there in an ocean that's 399 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:40,800 never seen sunlight. 400 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:41,400 Right. 401 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,040 It would be like exploring an alien abyss. 402 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,000 And it would teach us so much about the potential for life 403 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,320 beyond Earth. 404 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,960 But even without those super advanced missions, 405 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,560 Triton is already teaching us so much. 406 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:55,480 It's definitely sparked our curiosity today. 407 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,780 And we've only just scratched the surface of its story. 408 00:12:57,780 --> 00:13:00,540 Welcome back to our deep dive into Triton, 409 00:13:00,540 --> 00:13:02,980 its Neptune's most mysterious moon for sure. 410 00:13:02,980 --> 00:13:04,900 We've definitely covered a lot of ground today. 411 00:13:04,900 --> 00:13:07,860 We talked about Triton's strange features, its crazy capture, 412 00:13:07,860 --> 00:13:11,420 and even that possibility of a hidden ocean full of life. 413 00:13:11,420 --> 00:13:12,500 But what does it all mean? 414 00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:15,820 Why should we even care about this icy world so far away? 415 00:13:15,820 --> 00:13:16,740 That's a good question. 416 00:13:16,740 --> 00:13:17,240 Yeah. 417 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,140 Triton seems like a total anomaly, right? 418 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:20,780 This outsider that broke all the rules 419 00:13:20,780 --> 00:13:23,940 and ended up in that weird backward orbit around Neptune. 420 00:13:23,940 --> 00:13:24,900 You got it. 421 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:26,140 And that's why we're here. 422 00:13:26,140 --> 00:13:30,100 We're going to go into the 423 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:32,580 Triton's like a window into the early solar system. 424 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:34,700 Back when the giant planets were moving around, 425 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:37,340 scattering smaller objects and changing everything. 426 00:13:37,340 --> 00:13:39,300 So you're saying our solar system wasn't always 427 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:40,900 this calm and orderly place. 428 00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:43,140 It was more like a cosmic billiards game 429 00:13:43,140 --> 00:13:45,140 with planets and moons getting flung around. 430 00:13:45,140 --> 00:13:45,900 Exactly. 431 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:48,940 And by studying objects like Triton, those rule breakers, 432 00:13:48,940 --> 00:13:51,500 we can piece together what happened back then, 433 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:53,740 how our solar system formed, and why we see 434 00:13:53,740 --> 00:13:56,060 all these different worlds today. 435 00:13:56,060 --> 00:13:59,100 So Triton's like a cosmic time capsule holding secrets 436 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:00,660 from billions of years ago. 437 00:14:00,660 --> 00:14:01,980 That's one way to look at it. 438 00:14:01,980 --> 00:14:04,580 And its story also makes you wonder about what else might 439 00:14:04,580 --> 00:14:06,300 be out there beyond our solar system. 440 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:08,940 Like maybe other rogue moons around other stars. 441 00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:10,180 Exactly. 442 00:14:10,180 --> 00:14:12,860 If Triton, a moon captured from the Kuiper belt, 443 00:14:12,860 --> 00:14:16,100 could have an ocean and maybe even life, 444 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:18,300 what does that tell us about the possibilities 445 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:20,100 for other worlds out there? 446 00:14:20,100 --> 00:14:21,900 Worlds we haven't even discovered yet. 447 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:23,100 It's mind blowing. 448 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:25,780 We're talking about rogue planets drifting through space 449 00:14:25,780 --> 00:14:27,140 with their own moons. 450 00:14:27,140 --> 00:14:29,900 Maybe those moons have oceans too hidden under ice, 451 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:31,740 and maybe even teeming with life. 452 00:14:31,740 --> 00:14:33,340 It's definitely a possibility. 453 00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:36,140 The discovery of exoplanets around other stars 454 00:14:36,140 --> 00:14:37,660 has already changed our understanding 455 00:14:37,660 --> 00:14:39,620 of planetary systems. 456 00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:41,340 As we keep exploring, we're going 457 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:44,100 to find more and more weird and unexpected worlds, 458 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:46,060 things we never even imagined. 459 00:14:46,060 --> 00:14:49,660 It's so exciting to think about entire worlds out there, 460 00:14:49,660 --> 00:14:52,740 totally different from ours, but maybe with life in ways 461 00:14:52,740 --> 00:14:54,260 we can't even comprehend. 462 00:14:54,260 --> 00:14:56,500 And that's what makes exploration so amazing. 463 00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:59,980 It pushes us beyond what we know expands our horizons 464 00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:02,580 and reminds us that the universe is way bigger and more 465 00:15:02,580 --> 00:15:04,780 mysterious than we can even grasp. 466 00:15:04,780 --> 00:15:06,460 Well, Triton has certainly left its mark 467 00:15:06,460 --> 00:15:08,140 on our imaginations today. 468 00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:11,780 It's a moon that breaks all the rules, challenges our ideas, 469 00:15:11,780 --> 00:15:13,260 and makes us want to keep exploring. 470 00:15:13,260 --> 00:15:14,740 Couldn't have said it better myself. 471 00:15:14,740 --> 00:15:17,060 Triton's story from the Kuiper belt to Neptune 472 00:15:17,060 --> 00:15:19,340 shows just how dynamic and ever changing 473 00:15:19,340 --> 00:15:20,980 our cosmic neighborhood is. 474 00:15:20,980 --> 00:15:24,220 And that possibility of a hidden ocean, maybe even with life. 475 00:15:24,220 --> 00:15:26,580 Well, it reminds us that the search for life beyond Earth 476 00:15:26,580 --> 00:15:28,900 could take us to the most unexpected places. 477 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,220 It really has been an incredible journey 478 00:15:31,220 --> 00:15:33,500 exploring Triton's mysteries. 479 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,740 So as we wrap up our deep dive, what's 480 00:15:35,740 --> 00:15:38,740 the one thing you hope our listeners take away from this? 481 00:15:38,740 --> 00:15:41,580 I'd say never underestimate the power of a single moon 482 00:15:41,580 --> 00:15:44,060 to change our perspective on the universe. 483 00:15:44,060 --> 00:15:45,660 Triton's story shows us the power 484 00:15:45,660 --> 00:15:49,140 of scientific curiosity, the thrill of discovery, 485 00:15:49,140 --> 00:15:51,500 and the endless wonder of the cosmos. 486 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:53,820 I think we've all felt that sense of wonder today 487 00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:56,300 as we've explored Triton's many mysteries. 488 00:15:56,300 --> 00:15:58,580 And if you want to keep exploring the universe with us, 489 00:15:58,580 --> 00:16:00,940 be sure to follow and subscribe to Cosmos in a Pot 490 00:16:00,940 --> 00:16:02,580 and our YouTube channel. 491 00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:04,340 We'll be back soon with another deep dive 492 00:16:04,340 --> 00:16:06,340 into the mysteries of the cosmos. 493 00:16:06,340 --> 00:16:24,540 Until then, keep looking up and never stop exploring.