Why are moons like Europa and Enceladus seen as candidates for finding extraterrestrial life?

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Question: Why are moons like Europa and Enceladus seen as candidates for finding extraterrestrial life?
Option 1: They have oceans of liquid water underneath their surface. This is the key factor many scientists cite: subsurface oceans could provide the liquid water needed for life, plus energy sources and chemical nutrients, making them compelling targets for life detection.
Option 2: They have oceans of liquid water on their surface. In reality, these moons do not have global surface oceans; any liquid water is expected to exist beneath ice subsurfaces, not on the surface, so this statement is incorrect.
Option 3: They are bombarded with chunks of rock originating from Earth. While meteorite or comet impacts do occur in the outer solar system, this bombardment is not a defining reason for habitability or life searches on Europa or Enceladus, making this claim irrelevant as a justification for life potential.
Option 4: They are protected by the magnetic field of their planet. Although magnetic fields can influence radiation environments, protection by a planetary magnetic field is not the central reason these moons are considered promising for life. The primary interest is the presence of subsurface oceans and geophysical activity that could support chemistry and energy for life.

ASTR-1-45046-F25 Lecture: The Jovian Planets

Why are moons like Europa and Enceladus seen as candidates for finding extraterrestrial life?

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