Ganymede: Inferring An Underground Ocean On Jupiter's Largest Moon

Friday, March 13, 2015 - 13:40 in Astronomy & Space

Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, is thought to have once had more water than all the water on Earth's surface.But why? Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system and the only moon with its own magnetic field. The magnetic field causes aurorae, which are ribbons of glowing, hot electrified gas, in regions circling the north and south poles of the moon. Because Ganymede is close to Jupiter, it is also embedded in Jupiter's magnetic field. When Jupiter's magnetic field changes, the aurorae on Ganymede also change, "rocking" back and forth so by watching the rocking motion of the two aurorae, scientists were able to determine that a large amount of saltwater exists beneath Ganymede's crust affecting its magnetic field. read more

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