Icy ocean worlds attract significant interest for their astrobiological potential due to subsurface oceans, organics, and chemical energy sources.
Ganymede
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
Plasma and Thermal Processing Leading to Spatial and Temporal Variability of the Trapped O2 at Europa and Ganymede
We describe physical processes affecting the formation, trapping, and outgassing of molecular oxygen (O2) at Europa and Ganymede. Following Voyager measurements of their ambient plasmas, laboratory data indicated that the […]
Posted inGanymede, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Missions & Hardware, Radiation, Status Report
Ionosphere of Ganymede: Galileo Observations Versus Test Particle Simulation
In this paper, we model the plasma environment of Ganymede by means of a collisionless test particle simulation.
Posted inEuropa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
JUICE Astrobiology Mission Update
Since the beginning of the year, the downlink rate of Juice has been dropping dramatically to only 1/6th of usual data rate.
Posted inAriel, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Europa, Exploration Gear & Tech, Ganymede, Ice Giant, Icy Worlds, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Miranda, Oberon, Status Report, Titania, Umbriel, Uranus, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Detecting Planetary Oceans: Application To The Uranus System
The discovery of Europa’s subsurface ocean has spawned a strong desire by the planetary community to return and assess the ocean’s habitability using the magnetic induction signal that Europa generates.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Saturn, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Titan Has An Insulating Methane-rich Crust Up To Six Miles Thick
Saturn’s largest moon Titan is the only place other than Earth known to have an atmosphere and liquids in the form of rivers, lakes and seas on its surface. Because […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Gas Giants, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Io, Jupiter, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Neptune, Saturn, Status Report, Titan, Uranus
Sulfur in the Giant Planets, their Moons, and Extrasolar Gas Giant Planets
We review sulfur chemistry of the gas giant planets and their moons where sulfur compounds are observed. The major S-bearing gas in the upper atmospheres of the giant planets is […]
Posted inCallisto, Europa, Ganymede, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Astrobiology.com on Deutsche Welle: Europa Clipper and ESA Juice
Editor’s note: I was just on Deutsche Welle talking about the Europa Clipper mission – as well as ESA’s Juice mission – and how they will work in tandem exploring […]
Posted inCallisto, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Missions & Hardware, Press Release
Astrobiology Fleet Update: ESA Juice Tests SwRI Ultraviolet Spectrograph
As European Space Agency (ESA)’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft hurtled past the Moon and Earth in mid-August to provide its first gravity assist maneuver to the Jovian system, […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Europa, Ganymede, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Ice Planet Update: Arctic Sea Ice Near Historic Low – Antarctic Ice Continues Decline
Editor’s note: we live on a world that is mostly an ocean world, part Icy world, part desert world etc. Other worlds in our solar system exhibit both similar and […]