The Ice Giant Systems Seminar Series discusses recent developments in topics related to the Ice Giant systems.
Each seminar will host a guest speaker, followed by a lively discussion and community updates & news.
Events are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 11:00 AM ET.
Join the seminar eNews list to receive updates about future events.
If you no longer wish to receive Ice Giant Systems Seminar eNews, please click here to be taken to the unsubscribe page.
Upcoming Events
August 13, 2024 11:00 - 12:00 EDT
Astrobiology Applications in the Uranian System
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Weber (JPL/Caltech)
Abstract: The 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey prioritized the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) mission concept as the next priority flagship mission for the decade, which would include measurements of the major moons of Uranus-Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. While the Uranian moons differ greatly from the ocean worlds in the Jovian and Saturnian system, the emerging hypothesis is that some of them could at least currently sustain thin, potentially concentrated, oceans. Characterization of these moons would provide critical astrobiological data related to their habitability over time as well as the formation and evolution of ocean worlds more broadly. As the datasets for the outer planets are limited, the astrobiological potential of Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon currently or in the past is almost totally unconstrained. UOP could provide much needed characterization to these worlds if certain instrumentation and measurements are included, and would be further enhanced through enabling collaboration across scientific disciplines. We aim to draw the attention of the community toward the astrobiological potential of these moons and the critical work that needs to be done before and during a future Uranus Flagship to understand the implications for sustaining oceans and/or habitable environments to the current day.
Questions? mallory.kinczyk@jhuapl.edu
Related Documents:
September 10, 2024 11:00 - 12:00 EDT
Are Uranus' Large Moons Ocean Worlds? The Developing Spectroscopic Picture
Presenter: Dr. Richard Cartwright (JHU/APL)
Abstract: The surfaces of Uranus' large moons, partially imaged during the brief Voyager 2 encounter with the Uranian system in 1986, exhibit a variety of tectonic and putative cryovolcanic features, indicative of past endogenic activity. The youngest regions on Miranda and Ariel have drawn particular attention, and it is possible that endogenic activity persisted on these two moons into the recent past. Ground-based telescope observations revealed that the surfaces of Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon include sizeable fractions of CO2 ice. Recent JWST observations of Ariel confirmed the widespread presence of CO2 ice, while also detecting the presence of CO ice and possibly carbonate minerals, carbon suboxide, and nitriles. The presence of these species indicates active replenishment, especially CO, which readily sublimates at the estimated peak surface temperatures of the Uranian moons (80-90 K). It has been hypothesized that charged particle bombardment drives a radiolytic production cycle of CO2 and other carbon oxides, explaining the presence of these volatiles. However, the possible presence of carbonates on Ariel points to an aqueous origin, raising the possibility that some surface carbon oxides might have been sourced from an internal "soda" ocean.
Questions? mallory.kinczyk@jhuapl.edu
Related Documents:
Past Events
Search Past Events by Keyword:
| id | Start Date | End Date | Title | Description |
|---|