An underground ocean on Uranus’s Moon Ariel? You read right. The world’s finest telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), discovered possible evidence of an underground ocean on Ariel. This discovery could change our understanding of the solar system.
Uranus is the third largest planet in our solar system and has 28 moons. Ariel is one of the 28 moons orbiting Uranus and is the planet’s third-largest moon. NASA‘s Webb telescope found carbon dioxide ice on Ariel’s surface, which hints at the presence of liquid water beneath the moon’s icy crust.
Uranus has these five major moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. These moons are called “literary moons” because they are named for Shakespearean characters.
Ariel was first photographed in 1986 by NASA’s Voyager 2, which managed to capture a third of its surface. Ariel is made up of several canyons, grooves, and smooth regions.
The Discovery Process
Scientists have been closely studying five specific moons. Their target is to find ammonia, water, organic molecules or carbon dioxide ice on the moon Ariel.
The discovered carbon dioxide ice is an indication that there might be a liquid ocean flowing underneath the moon’s surface.
Ariel was discovered on Oct. 24, 1851, by 19th century England’s grand amateur astronomer William Lassell. Ariel orbits planet Uranus with same face toward it, other four large moons also orbits just like Ariel.
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Why Carbon Dioxide Ice Matters
Now, scientists have a puzzle about carbon dioxide ice on Ariel. Based on the distance Uranus and its moons are from the sun, carbon dioxide should turn into gas and escape into space. But this is not happening. According to scientists, some process must be followed to refresh the carbon dioxide on Ariel’s surface.
Scientists believe this process could happen due to interactions between Ariel’s surface and charged particles trapped in Uranus’ magnetosphere. These particles provide ionizing radiation, breaking down molecules and leaving carbon dioxide. This process is called radiolysis.
But the James Webb Telescope found new evidence which suggests the source of this carbon dioxide could come from Ariel’s interior. So there could be the possibility of the subsurface ocean releasing carbon dioxide through cracks on ice surface.
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Other Findings
Scientists also found other findings. They found carbon monoxide and a small amount of carbonates on the surface of Ariel. According to scientists, these minerals formed when water interacts with rocks.
Minerals indicate there might be geological processes happening beneath Ariel’s surface. These findings also support the theory of the underground ocean. These other findings strongly suggest there must be presence of underground ocean.
Significance of Underground Oceans
As we know, water is an important factor for life, so underground oceans indicate a geologically active world. They hold significance because these hidden underground water bodies could potentially sustain life.
Besides the Uranus moon Ariel, scientists already know that Jupiter’s other three moons have an underground ocean. The discovery of a possible underground ocean on Ariel adds to the growing list of solar system bodies that might have ocean life.
Recent findings of geologically active Ariel and other moons, scientists have urged NASA to plan missions to the Uranus system. But the problem is that the journey could take roughly 12-13 years to reach these bodies.
