Scientists have made an exciting discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), finding carbon dioxide ice on Ariel, one of Uranus' moons. This is a big step in the search for water across our solar system.
The research team behind the "Moons of Uranus" project has been meticulously examining four of Uranus' moons, searching for signs of ammonia, organic molecules, water, or carbon dioxide ice. After 21 hours of observations through the JWST, they detected carbon dioxide ice on Ariel's surface, suggesting the presence of a liquid ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust.
This discovery raises intriguing possibilities. One theory posits that an underground ocean could be undergoing chemical reactions, releasing carbon dioxide that then escapes to the surface through ice fissures. Alternatively, it’s suggested that Uranus’ magnetic field might be breaking down molecules to produce carbon dioxide ice.
In addition to carbon dioxide, scientists also detected carbon monoxide and traces of carbonates on Ariel. These minerals typically form when water interacts with rocks. The presence of such minerals, combined with the detection of carbon dioxide, points to potential geological activity on Ariel, similar to that observed on three of Jupiter’s largest moons, which are known to have subsurface oceans that could support life.
Ariel, named after a character from William Shakespeare’s play "The Tempest," is one of the 27 moons orbiting Uranus, the third largest planet in our solar system. The moon features a diverse landscape of canyons, grooves, and smooth plains. Ariel was first captured in images by NASA’s Voyager 2 in 1986, which photographed roughly a third of its surface. Given the recent findings suggesting possible geological activity, scientists are urging NASA to consider missions to explore the Uranus system further. However, such missions would require a lengthy journey of about 12 to 13 years to reach these distant celestial bodies.
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