Recent research suggests that Uranus' moon Miranda may harbor a hidden ocean beneath its icy surface. This discovery, led by planetary scientist Tom Nordheim and colleagues from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, arises from an analysis of images captured by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986.
Miranda, measuring approximately 300 miles in diameter, features a diverse landscape with deep valleys, high peaks, and unusual patterns, indicating significant geological activity in its past. The researchers propose that tidal heating, caused by gravitational interactions with Uranus and nearby moons, could generate enough frictional heat to maintain liquid water beneath the surface.
This finding could reshape our understanding of extraterrestrial life, as the presence of a subsurface ocean raises the possibility of habitability in environments previously considered inhospitable. However, further missions to Miranda are necessary to gather concrete evidence for this hypothesis.