Scientist for a Day

Berin Turkan Sancakdar

Topic: Arial

---

"Exploration of our solar system is an important source of information about our place in space as humans and possibilities of different life forms. Although far from the sun and thus proposing low possibility for extraterrestrial life, Uranus’ moons contain features intriguing enough for a possible future exploration. Out of five of the largest moons of Uranus, Ariel could be a strong candidate for exploration due to signs of a possible subsurface ocean and its recent geological activity.

Firstly, water is a crucial source for human life. Even though scientists were able to gather only a limited amount of data about the moons of Uranus, through a series of calculations, they were able to find that the moons Miranda, Titania, Umbriel and Ariel have detectible magnetic fields that could be created by subsurface oceans. This induced magnetic field is created when a layer of conductive liquid is affected by the magnetic pull of the planet. Since water is an important source for life, a closer examination of one of the moons could have many benefits for humanity.

Secondly, Ariel has a younger surface than the rest of Uranus’ moons. It is thought to be either due to meteorite impact or geological activity. There are signs of cryovolcanic activity on Ariel, which is further evidence to the possibility of subsurface oceans, since cryovolcanism occurs when liquid vapor under the surface escapes and freezes in space. Ariel’s surface provides signs for the presence of oceans in the moons of Uranus.

In conclusion, there are still many unknowns about the moons of Uranus, and an exploration of one of these moons could lead to many discoveries for humankind. The presence of a subsurface ocean could potentially serve as a habitat for foreign species, and could answer many of our questions about space."