Washington: Recent observations by the James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Uranus’ moon ‘Ariel’ may have an entire ocean beneath its surface.
The telescope detected carbon dioxide ice on one edge of the moon, which possibly indicates an underground ocean.
Uranus is the seventh planet in the solar system and has five moons. Ariel is one of them, known for its icy surface and interesting diverse geological features.
It was discovered in 1851 by scientist William Lassell. Ariel is a mix of surface valleys, mountains, and faults, mostly kept active by tectonic activity.
Cryovolcanism is a process on Ariel’s surface that continuously maintains the moon’s activity.
A close study of Ariel shows that its surface is covered with carbon dioxide ice. The far hemisphere of Ariel seems particularly enveloped in ice.