Researchers studying Uranus’ moons a bit closer suggest that the four largest of the planet’s 27 moons likely have liquid oceans beneath their icy surface.
These are the moons Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon, which researchers believe generate enough internal heat that some of the water on the moons is still in liquid form under the ice. Evidence has previously been found for the existence of liquid water on one of the moons, Ariel, further back in time.
Furthermore, researchers believe that there are abundant amounts of ammonia and salt in the moon oceans, which act as anti-freeze and prevent the oceans from freezing over. Below are cross-sectional images of Uranus’ five largest moons. The researchers believe that Miranda, Uranus’ fifth-largest moon, may have had liquid oceans under the ice at some point, but this is no longer the case.
The image above was taken by the Hubble Telescope 25 years ago and shows Uranus, four of its larger rings, and ten of the planet’s moons.
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