Auroras Reveal Buried Ocean on Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede

Auroras wrapped around Jupiter’s moon Ganymede, the solar system’s largest moon, have confirmed that a salty ocean hides beneath the world’s surface.

The observations, made with the Hubble Space Telescope, add Ganymede to a long list of places in the solar system where water is abundant. They also suggest a way for scientists to remotely look for water on distant exoplanets. Described today in the Journal of Geophysical ResearchDescribed today in the Journal of Geophysical Research, the results are a slick observational feat, and the first time auroras have been used to remotely peer inside a world.

“We aren’t at Jupiter. Hubble is at the Earth, and yet it can probe the internal structure of this

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet