Habitability factor · Planetary Habitability
Subsurface Ocean
A layer of liquid water beneath an icy shell, kept warm by tidal heating and in contact with a rocky seafloor. Europa and Enceladus have them; they are the leading places to look for life beyond Earth, and the target of the Europa Clipper mission.
Highlights
- ›Oceans hidden beneath the ice of the outer moons
Worlds, missions & methods
Knowledge connections
- Member of groupPlanetary Habitability
- Associated withEuropa
- Associated withEnceladus
- Associated withTiger Stripes
- Associated withEuropa Clipper
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.