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NASA Just Discovered An Ocean And Plenty Of Oxygen On Jupiter's Moon

by Chris Riotta

It turns out the largest moon in our solar system, Ganymede, is also the home to a vast, hidden ocean tucked underneath its surface.

Researchers have thought for some time that Jupiter's moons may have some secrets left to be discovered.

Now, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA has found some more clues as to what's happening on this mysterious moon.

The Verge reports the Hubble collected over seven hours of data as the telescope explored the outskirts of the moon's atmosphere.

The ocean appears to be an enormous entity on Ganymede, but that isn't the only characteristic about this moon that's causing scientists' ears to perk up.

Apparently, Ganymede is the only moon in our solar system with its own magnetic field, and its atmosphere also appears to be rich with oxygen.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like humans are going to be packing up their lives and taking the trip to Ganymede anytime soon: The ocean is located more than 100 miles underneath the moon's surface, so analysts doubt it has the hydrothermal systems necessary for any of us to stay alive.

Still, it's pretty cool to imagine what implications this research will have for our future.

Maybe this moon could act as a reservoir for water, oxygen and other nutrients necessary to support life on whatever planet we end up on after this one goes to sh*t.

Citations: NASA confirms theres an ocean on Jupiters moon Ganymede (The Verge)