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| Paper: |
Identifying Cold Ocean Planets and Characterizing Their Geologic Activity |
| Monograph: |
10, HWO25 Proceedings Part I: Community Science Case Development Documents |
| Page: |
521 |
| Authors: |
Lynnae Quick; Jessica L. Noviello; Apurva V. Oza |
| DOI: |
10.26624/JVGI3920 |
| Abstract: |
Ocean worlds in the Solar System are places where biosignatures are most likely to be found outside of
Earth due to the presence of liquid water within them. Several of these bodies exhibit geological activity in
the form of effusive and explosive cryovolcanism. Explosive cryovolcanism in the form of geyser-like plumes
is ongoing on Enceladus and detections by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck Observatory suggest
that Europa may also have geyser-like plumes that erupt intermittently. We propose utilizing the Habitable
Worlds Observatory to investigate the prevalence of ice-covered ocean worlds in other planetary systems and
to search for signs of geological activity on these planets. Here we present the scientific background and
justification for these investigations, and introduce parameters for proposed observations. |
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