Research on the Geological Activity of Icy Moons Could Help Future Space Probe Missions
Icy moons, like those orbiting Jupiter and Saturn, have become a popular talking point in astronomy due to their underground liquid oceans. Recently, planetary scientists have been gearing up in preparation for the next decade, which promises to bring new research seeking to understand these elusive oceans and their potential habitable conditions.
Icy Moons May Contain Habitable Conditions
For decades, astronomers have been dreaming about visiting the distant moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Several of these planets’ larger moons have frozen surfaces, but evidence strongly points towards deep liquid oceans lying under their icy tops. We can’t help but ask, “What is under there? Is it possible for aquatic alien life to thrive in these cold ocean moons?” Europa is particularly famous, with many science fiction stories dedicated to imagining the types of civilizations that might exist there.
While most scientists think the likelihood of advanced civilizations on these water worlds is pretty slim, if not impossible, it could be possible (albeit statistically unlikely) that microscopic life forms are swimming in the waters of one or multiple icy moons right now. Still, these potentially habitable locations are of particular…
