icy moons – Astronomy Now

ESA’s ‘JUICE’ spacecraft takes off on epic voyage to Jupiter

14 April 2023 Astronomy Now

One of Europe’s most ambitious planetary missions is on its way to Jupiter to study the planet, its icy moons and possibly habitable sub-surface seas.

Analysis indicates Enceladus’ sub-surface ocean may be habitable

28 January 2020 Astronomy Now

A new analysis incorporating data from the Cassini mission suggests Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus may host a habitable environment in its sub-surface ocean.

Close encounters of a tidal kind could lead to cracks on icy moons

26 May 2016 Astronomy Now

A new model developed by University of Rochester researchers could offer an explanation as to how cracks on icy moons, such as Pluto’s Charon, formed. Until now, it was thought that the cracks were the result of geodynamical processes, such as plate tectonics, but computer simulations suggest that a close encounter with another body might have been the cause.