Researchers Discovered a Chilly and Moist Entity Close to Uranus
A group of researchers lately suggested that Uranian moon Miranda might harbor a liquid water ocean, following their examination of the satellite's surface and examination of tidal stress on it. They published their findings in The Planetary Science Journal, proposing the plausible existence of an ocean at least 100 kilometers (62 miles) thick on Miranda within the past 100 to 500 million years. Although the scientists believe such a deep ocean no longer exists, they speculate that liquid water might still be present beneath the moon's surface, as one researcher mentioned to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. If Miranda had completely frozen, they assume there would be noticeable cracks on the moon's surface—evidence of the frozen ocean's expansion amidst. However, no such cracks are present based on the researchers' analysis of imagery.
Tom Nordheim, a planetary scientist at the laboratory and co-author of the recent study, commented that discovering evidence of an ocean inside a small object like Miranda was incredibly surprising. He explained that this finding added to the idea that some of Uranus' moons could be fascinating—with the possibility of multiple ocean worlds revolving around one of our solar system's most distant planets, a concept that was both thrilling and bizarre.
Despite Uranus' reputation as a source of jokes, it remains an intriguing realm for planetary scientists. In 2022, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine prioritized the exploration of Uranus for the decade. As an eccentric celestial body with an odd tilt, a notable white mark, intense seasons, and infrared auroras within its gaseous atmosphere, Uranus features plenty to captivate the interest of space enthusiasts. Last year, Webb Space Telescope images revealed luminous rings around Uranus in greater detail than ever before.
Moreover, Uranus is home to nearly 30 moons. Earlier this year, a different team of astronomers found a new moon orbiting the planet, making it the first to be discovered in over 20 years. This elusive new moon measures only five miles (eight kilometers) wide and travels around Uranus in a nearly two-year orbit. Although it remains unnamed, it will eventually receive a name like its rocky counterparts in Uranus' orbit (besides Miranda, there are Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Juliet...and much more).
This story primarily focuses on Miranda. The top image features one of the few detailed photos of the icy moon, captured by NASA's Voyager 2 in 1986 as it continued its journey beyond our solar system. In the photo, the rough surface of Miranda appears, marked by grooves and craters that scientists attribute to tidal forces and heating within the moon.
In their recent study, the research team developed a model of Miranda's interior based on the features of its exterior, examining evidence of stress and shear on the moon's surface to deduce internal forces that might have molded the moon's appearance. They concluded that orbital changes resulting from gravitational interactions between Miranda and other Uranian satellites might have generated a pulse of heat within the moon, creating a deep ocean at some point in the distant past.
The team also suggested that an approximately 8-mile-thick (30-kilometer-thick) crust "implies" a 62-mile-thick (100 km-thick) "subsurface liquid water ocean." For reference, the Mariana Trench—the deepest point in our planet's oceans—is just 6.83 miles deep (11 km). Although such a deep ocean likely no longer exists, the thought that it once existed—as well as the possibility that a thin ocean remains—has its fans.
The team argued that if such a thick ocean had ever existed, it would have made Miranda akin to Saturn's Enceladus and potentially habitable in recent geological history. Astrobiology—the study of life beyond Earth—is a captivating area of space research. From placing rovers on Mars to observing distant exoplanets, it plays a critical role in many astrobiological endeavors. Some researchers believe that our greatest chance of discovering life beyond Earth might be in the subsurface oceans of icy moons like Europa, Ganymede, Enceladus, and Miranda.
Although no space agency has yet dispatched a probe to Miranda, findings about icy moons might emerge soon. The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) and Europa Clipper missions are en route to the Jovian system, promising to offer a more detailed look at Jupiter's icy moons. These findings could serve as a foundation for better understanding Miranda and potentially identifying a "new world" lurking beneath its surface.
The discovery of potential liquid water on Miranda further highlights the significance of technology and science in exploring the universe's mysteries, particularly in the realm of space. If proven, this finding could shape our understanding of the future possibilities of life beyond Earth.
With the impending JUICE and Europa Clipper missions, technology continues to play a crucial role in unveiling the secrets of Uranus' moons, potentially shedding light on Miranda's enigmatic subsurface ocean.
