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Q: Does Ganymede have a liquid beneath it icy surface?
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Which of Jupiter's moons possibly contains a liquid ocean under its surface?

Europa is the moon that could possibly contain a liquid ocean under its icy surface, and it could possibly be liquid water, or H2O!


Is Callisto's surface icy?

Yes


What is Europa?

Ah, Europa, one of my favorite astronomy topics! Europa is very different from other moons in the solar system! It has a magnetic field, which is most likely caused by oceans of liquid salt water under its icy surface. Despite being super far from the sun, it's actually not so cold on Europe because of basically a gravitational tug of war between Jupiter, Io, and Ganymede. Scientists think that there might be life there!


What is the definition of Ganymede?

Ganymede is a natural satellite of Jupiter and the largest natural satellite in the Solar System. Completing an orbit in roughly seven days, it is the seventh satellite and third Galilean satellite from Jupiter. Ganymede participates in a 1:2:4 orbital resonance with the satellites Europa and Io, respectively. It is larger in diameter than the planet Mercury but has only about half its mass. Ganymede is composed primarily of silicate rock and water ice. It is a fully differentiated body with an iron-rich, liquid core. A saltwater ocean is believed to exist nearly 200 km below Ganymede's surface, sandwiched between layers of ice. Its surface comprises two main types of terrain. Dark regions, saturated with impact craters and dated to four billion years ago, cover about a third of the satellite. Lighter regions, crosscut by extensive grooves and ridges and only slightly less ancient, cover the remainder. The cause of the light terrain's disrupted geology is not fully known, but was likely the result of tectonic activity brought about by tidal heating. Ganymede is the only satellite in the Solar System known to possess a magnetosphere, likely created through convection within the liquid iron core. The meager magnetosphere is buried within Jupiter's much larger magnetic field and connected to it through open field lines. The satellite has a thin oxygen atmosphere that includes O, O2, and possibly O3 (ozone). Atomic hydrogen is a minor atmospheric constituent. Whether the satellite has an ionosphere to correspond to its atmosphere is unresolved. Ganymede's discovery is credited to Galileo Galilei, who observed it in 1610. The satellite's name was soon suggested by astronomer Simon Marius, for the mythological Ganymede, cupbearer of the Greek gods and Zeus's beloved. Beginning with Pioneer 10, spacecraft have been able to examine Ganymede closely. The Voyager probes refined measurements of its size, while the Galileo craft discovered its underground ocean and magnetic field. A new mission to Jupiter's icy moons, the Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) is proposed for a launch in 2020.


What moon has life on it?

First no moon has life on it. Secondly if there was life on a moon why haven't we found it yet.A:In our solar system, the moon most likely to have potentially developed life is Europa, the icy moon of Jupiter that has liquid water beneath its frozen surface. Another possible candidate is Titan, Saturn's largest moon; it's the only other moon in the solar system where a liquid (in this case, methane) has been found.In fiction, of course, life on moons can prosper nearly anywhere. The best-known example is probably the forest moon of Endor, home to the Ewoks in the movie Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi.

Related questions

What is beneath the atmosphere of Uranus?

Liquid hydrogen, icy water and ammonia, and a molten rock core


What is the significance of Europa's suspected subsurface ocean being covered by an icy shell and covering the satellite's rocky mantle?

The liquid water beneath Europa's surface might be capable of supporting life.


Is the satellite titan the only moon to hold liquid water?

No. First of all, to be clear, the liquid on the surface of Titan is methane, not water. It does however have a layer of liquid water beneath its icy surface. Some other moons in the solar system probably have liquid water under their surfaces as well. Most notable of them is Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter.


What is the interior of Pluto made of?

The surface and interior of Pluto is solid. The surface is made up of two different things.It has a icy and rocky part.Scientists are certain the icy part is made of frozen nitrogen,but also contains smaller amounts of frozen carbon monoxide and methane.Pluto's surface is mostly composed of nitrogen.The interior of Pluto is maybe the same of major icy moons such as Ganymede.


What are some of the physical features of the Moon's surface?

cratered and icy it looks volcanic but its not. It has an ocean 6 miles beneath crust


Hidden ocean in europa?

There is a hidden ocean on Europa as found out by NASA, manifested as churning seas beneath its icy surface.


Which of Jupiter's moons possibly contains a liquid ocean under its surface?

Europa is the moon that could possibly contain a liquid ocean under its icy surface, and it could possibly be liquid water, or H2O!


What evidence supports that idea that life could have evolved on europa?

They think that life might exist on Europa because they have found evidence of liquid water on Europa. Hope this helps. :) <3


Which of jupiter's moon is volcanic?

The Jovian moon Io is certainly volcanic, spewing volcanoes of sulfur into orbit! Europa may have "ice volcanoes" caused by the cracking of the icy surface and exposing a liquid - possibly water! - in enormous plumes. This will take a lot more study to confirm. Ganymede _may_ have volcanoes; the math seems to predict them, but we haven't seen any yet. Ganymede does appear to have some sort of atmosphere, so it can't be ruled out.


Why do scientist think that conditions for life might exist within Enceladus?

They do not think that conditions for life must exist inside Enceladus; they merely think it is possible. The Cassini probe has detected geysers venting ice and water vapor from beneath the icy surface of Enceladus, indicating that there is liquid water beneath the ice. Scientists consider liquid water to be the best indicator for a planet or moon to potentially be suitable for life.


What suggests that there might be liquid water on Europea?

The icy surface of Europa appears to be broken up into segments not unlike the tectonic plates on Earth. The surface appears, in geologic terms, to be rather young. If the surface is moving as we have found, then there is most likely a liquid layer under the ice.


What are Neptune's geological features?

Neptune is a jovian (gas-like) planet. It's surface features are unknown, but is thought to have a rocky/icy/liquid core