subsuface ocean ocean world Archives

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is one of many moons in the solar system thought to have a liquid ocean beneath its icy exterior. Southwest Research Institute scientists modeled disruptive collisions to understand how they may have affected ocean formation in moons. Findings indicate that larger moons will likely maintain an ocean after a collision, but impacts do not seem to promote the formation of new oceans post-impact. -- SwRI

SwRI Simulations Indicate That Large Impacts May Limit Ocean Formation In Icy Moons

by Keith CowingSeptember 9, 2026September 9, 2026

[SwRI] Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists provided simulations to understand the role disruptive impacts play on icy moons with subsurface oceans in our solar system.

subsuface ocean ocean world

SwRI Simulations Indicate That Large Impacts May Limit Ocean Formation In Icy Moons

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