Tag

Cryovolcanism

All articles tagged with #cryovolcanism

science24 days ago•12 min saved

Ceres' Ahuna Mons: A Salt Dome Built by Frozen Brine, Not Lava

Ahuna Mons, a 4-kilometer-tall mountain on the dwarf planet Ceres, is likely a cryovolcanic dome formed by the extrusion of salty brine and ice rather than molten rock. NASA’s Dawn mission revealed its steep slopes and bright salt deposits, while gravity data suggests a subsurface plume drove the material upward. The mountain is geologically young, formed within the last 240 million years, and its sharp profile persists because older similar structures have likely flattened over time.

via Space Daily|

#ahuna-mons #ceres #cryovolcanism

space1 month ago•11 min saved

Tiny 500-km world beyond Neptune may host a fleeting atmosphere

A 2024 stellar occultation suggests the 500-km trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 has a global atmosphere of about 100–200 nanobars, thin but detectable for such a small body; without replenishment it would escape in under 1,000 years. The gas species aren’t identified yet, and possible sources include a recent collision or ongoing cryovolcanism. Webb observations found no obvious surface ice reservoir to explain it, so independent verification through future occultations or infrared spectroscopy is needed to determine the origin and fate of this ephemeral atmosphere.

via Space Daily|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #impact

space2 months ago•11 min saved

Titan’s potential cryovolcanoes could spew icy slush of water and ammonia

Titan may host cryovolcanoes that eject a cold ammonia–water slush instead of lava; Cassini-era data identified candidate features (like Sotra Patera) but no definitive smoking gun, leaving the cryovolcanism question unsettled. The interior could consist of high‑pressure ice pockets or a subsurface ocean that could supply melt, with ammonia helping lower the freezing point and reduce liquid density. The upcoming Dragonfly mission (launch 2028, arrival 2034) could measure surface chemistry, subsurface structure and seismic activity to help settle the debate; for now cryovolcanism on Titan remains physically plausible but unconfirmed.

via Space Daily|

#cassini #cryovolcanism #dragonfly

space3 months ago•12 min saved

Pluto Revealed as a Dynamic World of Ice Flows and Blue Haze

New Horizons’ 2015 Pluto flyby uncovered a surprisingly young, active surface with smooth nitrogen-ice plains, evidence of ice flow, possible cryovolcanoes, and a layered blue atmospheric haze, reshaping Pluto from a cold, ancient relic into a small world still geologically alive.

via Space Daily|

#cryovolcanism #new-horizons #nitrogen-ice

space4 months ago•4 min saved

Ceres Reveals Hidden Brines and Cryovolcanic Activity Beneath Occator Crater

NASA’s Dawn data show Ceres has a complex surface with a gravity anomaly indicating subsurface brines beneath Occator crater, where bright deposits like Cerealia Facula and Vinalia Facula suggest recent cryovolcanic activity. The findings point to a possible past subsurface ocean, a high water content around 25%, and ongoing surface modification from impacts, making a future orbiter/lander sample-return mission plausible to study these features in detail.

via Universe Today|

#ceres #cryovolcanism #dawn-mission

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Tiny Kuiper World Reveals Thin Atmosphere, Second of Its Kind

Astronomers observed the small Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93 (about 311 miles across) during a stellar occultation and found a very thin atmosphere, making it only the second TNO known to have one after Pluto. The atmosphere, five to ten million times thinner than Earth's, could result from cryovolcanic activity or a recent icy impact; its persistence or dissipation could help distinguish between these sources. Future James Webb Space Telescope observations may detect additional gases like methane or carbon monoxide.

via Futurism|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #kuiper-belt

space5 months ago•74 min saved

Tiny Kuiper Belt World Grows a Mysterious, Vanishingly Thin Atmosphere

A diminutive trans-Neptunian object known as (612533) 2002 XV93 (a ~500 km Pluto-like body in Neptune’s 2:3 resonance) has unexpectedly developed a thin atmosphere (exosphere). Its presence was inferred from a January 2024 stellar occultation observed by a Japan-led team; the exosphere is extremely tenuous, with surface pressures of 100–200 nanobars—5 to 10 million times thinner than Earth’s. The atmosphere could originate from a recent impact or from cryovolcanic outgassing, but either way it challenges the idea that only large bodies can sustain atmospheres. If it’s impact-driven, the gas would escape within ~1,000 years; if outgassing, the source is ongoing beneath the surface. JWST observations and density monitoring in coming years should help pinpoint the cause. The discovery was published May 4 in Nature Astronomy.

via Space|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #kuiper-belt

space5 months ago•19 min saved

Atmosphere detected on a distant Kuiper belt object during stellar occultation

A three-site stellar occultation of the ~250-km-radius trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 on 2024-01-10 revealed a refractive signature indicating a thin atmosphere with surface pressure around 100–200 nanobars, marking the first atmospheric detection beyond Pluto for a body of this size. This shows that even relatively small, distant icy worlds can host transient atmospheres, potentially sustained by cryovolcanic activity or a recent impact, and challenges standard ideas about volatile retention in the outer Solar System.

via Nature|

#2002-xv93 #atmosphere #cryovolcanism

science10 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Track and Study 3I/ATLAS Comet's Journey and Activity

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which recently reached its closest point to the Sun, shows signs of cryovolcanism with erupting ice volcanoes, resembling trans-Neptunian objects, likely caused by sublimating carbon dioxide reacting with metals in its core. This discovery offers valuable insights into planetary system formation and the chemical evolution of small bodies, highlighting the importance of studying such rare interstellar visitors.

via Futurism|

#3iatlas #comet #cryovolcanism

science10 months ago•5 min saved

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Shows Signs of Cryovolcanism and Close Approach in December

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may be a primitive carbon-rich object experiencing cryovolcanic activity, similar to outer solar system bodies, based on spectral analysis and comparisons with NASA Antarctic meteorite samples, providing insights into planetary formation and interstellar material.

via IFLScience|

#3iatlas #carbonaceous-object #cryovolcanism

science-and-environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Mount Everest-Sized 'Devil Comet' on Collision Course with Earth, Expected to Erupt"

The Comet Pons-Brooks, also known as Comet 12P and the "Devil comet," is heading toward Earth and is expected to pass between our planet and Venus, reaching its closest point in June. This comet, larger than Mount Everest and cryovolcanic in nature, has been known to scientists since the 1800s and recently underwent an outburst, releasing gas and ice into space. It will be visible during the solar eclipse on April 8, and there is no danger of it impacting Earth.

via PennLive|

##astronomy #cometponsbrooks

space2 years ago•2 min saved

"NASA Discovers 17 Exoplanets with Potential Life-Sustaining Oceans"

NASA has identified 17 exoplanets that could potentially have subsurface oceans buried beneath thick sheets of ice, making them promising candidates for hosting life. These planets, similar to Jupiter's icy moons, receive enough internal heating from the decay of radioactive elements and tidal forces from their host stars to maintain internal oceans. While their host stars may not provide conditions warm enough for liquid water on the surface, these planets may generate enough heat below the surface to sustain a subsurface ocean. Follow-up observations will involve capturing the emission spectra of light traveling through these planets' atmospheres to search for chemical signs of life.

via Livescience.com|

#cryovolcanism #exoplanets #nasa

space2 years ago•5 min saved

'Devil Comet' with Horns Hurtling Towards Earth

The colossal comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, known for its explosive cryovolcanic activity, has experienced another outburst as it approaches Earth. This "devil comet," three times larger than Mount Everest, will be visible as a faint object with a tail in June 2024. It poses no threat to our planet. Comets like 12P/Pons-Brooks exhibit cryovolcanism, releasing gas and ice instead of molten rock. The recent outburst observed by an amateur astronomer is the second in a month and the third since July. Cryovolcanic comets, such as 12P/Pons-Brooks, provide insights into the composition and behavior of these celestial objects.

via Earth.com|

#12ppons-brooks #astronomy #comet

space2 years ago•3 min saved

"Pluto's Supervolcano Eruption Unveils Subsurface Ocean Discovery"

Scientists studying data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft have discovered an unusual crater on Pluto called Kiladze, which they believe is a supervolcano that erupted a few million years ago. Unlike Earth's volcanoes, Kiladze spewed ice lava in a process known as cryovolcanism, likely originating from Pluto's hidden subsurface ocean. The presence of water ice around the crater suggests that there is more heat remaining in Pluto's interior than previously thought. The findings shed light on the complex nature of Pluto and its geological activity.

via Space.com|

#cryovolcanism #hidden-ocean #new-horizons

astronomy3 years ago•4 min saved

"Approaching Catastrophe: Massive Cryovolcanic Comet Hurtling Towards Earth"

A colossal cryovolcanic comet, named 12P/Pons-Brooks, three times the size of Mount Everest, has exploded in space and is now heading towards Earth. Although it will not collide with our planet, it will be visible to the naked eye on April 21, 2024. This cryovolcanic comet, similar in size to Halley's comet, has a solid core and releases icy fragments through fissures when warmed by the sun. Sky watchers can currently spot it in the Hercules constellation, and further eruptions are expected as it continues its journey. Cryovolcanic comets offer insights into the solar system's outer realms and may have played a role in delivering water and organic compounds to Earth. Future missions aim to study cryovolcanic activity up close and potentially discover extraterrestrial organisms in these icy eruptions.

via Earth.com|

#astronomy #cryovolcanic-comet #cryovolcanism