Uranus — the turquoise, tilted oddball of the solar system — may have just joined ranks with Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune as host to at least one icy moon that’s […]
Ocean world
Posted inAstrogeology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa’s Icy Crust
Research reveals a new explanation for how the icy shell of Jupiter’s moon Europa rotates at a different rate than its interior. NASA’s Europa Clipper will take a closer look.
Posted inAstrogeology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Spin-Orbit Coupling Of Europa’s Ice Shell And Interior
Europa is an icy ocean world, differentiated into a floating ice shell and solid interior, separated by a global ocean.
Posted inAstrogeology, Enceladus, Icy Worlds, Press Release
How Enceladus Ejects Particles From Oceans Beneath Its Surface
Although it is relatively small, Enceladus — the sixth largest of Saturn’s 83 moons — has been considered by astronomers to be one of the more compelling bodies in our […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Meet The Team Simulating Europa’s Surface — On Earth
Europa Clipper’s main science goal is to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa that could support life.
Posted inIcy Worlds, Mimas, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
SwRI Investigations Reveal More Evidence That Mimas Is A Stealth Ocean World
When a Southwest Research Institute scientist discovered surprising evidence that Saturn’s smallest, innermost moon could generate the right amount of heat to support a liquid internal ocean, colleagues began studying […]
Posted inEnceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Sending Signals To Droids Through The Ice On Ocean Worlds
Detection of extraterrestrial life would be an incredible discovery, revolutionizing humanity’s perception of life and providing us insight into how life begins and persists in various environments.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Diverse Carbonates In Exoplanet Oceans Promote The Carbon Cycle
Carbonate precipitation in oceans is essential for the carbonate-silicate cycle (inorganic carbon cycle) to maintain temperate climates.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Enabling Ice Core Science On Mars And Ocean Worlds
Ice deposits on Earth provide an extended record of volcanism, planetary climate, and life.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Two Exoplanets May Be Mostly Water, NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Find
A team led by of researchers at the University of Montreal has found evidence that two exoplanets orbiting a red dwarf star are “water worlds,” where water makes up a […]