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| James Webb Telescope Reveals Potential Subsurface Ocean on Uranus’ Moon Ariel, Shedding Light on Carbon Dioxide Mystery Image credit: Wikipedia |
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have discovered evidence that Ariel, one of Uranus' moons, may harbor a subsurface liquid water ocean. This revelation could explain the puzzling presence of significant amounts of carbon dioxide ice on Ariel's surface, a phenomenon that has long baffled scientists.
The JWST's spectral analysis of Ariel revealed that the moon has some of the richest carbon dioxide deposits in the solar system. This analysis also showed unexpected deposits of carbon monoxide, which should not be stable at Ariel's average surface temperature, around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) warmer than the required temperature for carbon monoxide stability.
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| James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Image credit: NASA |
Previously, scientists believed that the carbon dioxide on Ariel's surface resulted from interactions between the moon’s surface and charged particles in Uranus' magnetosphere, a process known as radiolysis. However, the new evidence suggests that the source of this carbon dioxide might be internal, possibly from a subsurface ocean.
Richard Cartwright from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) noted, "The carbon monoxide would have to be actively replenished, no question." This replenishment could be occurring through cracks in Ariel's icy shell, potentially driven by cryovolcanoes—volcanoes that erupt icy slush instead of lava.
Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby of Uranus hinted at the possibility of active cryovolcanoes on Ariel. The cracked and scarred surface of the moon supports the idea that these cryovolcanoes might be expelling carbon oxides, explaining the higher concentration of these compounds on the side of Ariel that faces away from Uranus.
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| Uranus moon Ariel showing the cracks on the surface of the moon Image credit: NASA |
Additionally, the JWST's spectral analysis indicated the presence of carbonate minerals on Ariel, which form when rock interacts with liquid water. Cartwright emphasized the significance of this finding, stating, "If our interpretation of that carbonate feature is correct, then that is a pretty big result because it means it had to form in the interior."
Uranus and its moons have not been visited by a spacecraft since Voyager 2's flyby nearly four decades ago. The 2023 Planetary Science and Astrobiology decadal survey stressed the importance of a dedicated mission to the Uranian system to gather more data. Such a mission could also yield valuable insights into Neptune, the other ice giant in our solar system, and their potentially ocean-bearing moons.
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| Uranus and it's moons Image credit: Space.com |
Ian Cohen, a NASA Applied Physics Laboratory scientist, highlighted the broader implications, stating, "Whether it's to unlock the keys to how the solar system formed, better understand the planet’s complex magnetosphere, or determine whether these moons are potential ocean worlds, many of us in the planetary science community are really looking forward to a future mission to explore Uranus."
The team's research was published on July 24 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, underscoring the compelling nature of the Uranian system and its importance for future exploration.
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