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Does Jupiter’s Moon Callisto Have an Ocean? The Evidence is Mounting
- Callisto, one of Jupiter's moons, is believed to likely have an ocean based on new evidence.
- Initial data from the Voyager probes and later from the Galileo spacecraft provided clues about Callisto's subsurface ocean.
- Unlike Europa and Enceladus, Callisto's surface looks dark and icy, but the magnetic field evidence suggests the presence of a subsurface ocean.
- The moon's induced magnetic field, created by interactions with Jupiter, hints at a conductive layer that could be an ocean.
- Research using Galileo's data and new modeling techniques supports the hypothesis of a subsurface ocean on Callisto.
- Ongoing missions like NASA's Europa Clipper and ESA's JUICE will provide better data to confirm the presence of an ocean on Callisto.
- Data from future missions will help determine whether Callisto joins the ranks of ocean moons in the Solar System.
- The presence of an ocean on Callisto would add to the intrigue of moons potentially harboring life beyond Earth.
- Galileo's limited data on Callisto's magnetic fields has led to challenges in fully understanding the moon's subsurface ocean.
- Newer missions like Europa Clipper and JUICE will provide more comprehensive data on Callisto's potential ocean.
- By the early 2030s, with the arrival of Europa Clipper and JUICE data, scientists hope to confirm if Callisto is indeed an ocean world.
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