Jupiter's Moon Callisto Probably Has an Ocean Under Its Surface

researchers have theorized that resting beneathCallisto’s pockmarked surfaceis a liquid saltwater ocean that spans the entire moon.

That mission launched in 1989 and scanned Jupiter and its moons between 1995 and 2003.

In short, Galileo’s readings were initially difficult to interpret because of Callisto’s strong ionosphere.

Cochrane said this works with planetary bodies as well.

Moons or planets with enough internal heat can have a liquid saltwater ocean beneath the surface.

These oceans are electrically conductive thanks to the salt in the water.

In other words, oceans can be found based on the magnetic fields they generate.

That’s why researchers have been stuck on Callisto’s potential underground ocean for decades.

Both missions will almost certainly provide more research data for Callisto.

In terms of the information they’ll be collecting, Cochrane told us it’s not necessarily different data.

Rather, it’s more data.

Could there be life on Callisto?

NASA and the European Space Agency wouldn’t have sent missions to Jupiter without good reasons to do so.

And one is this:Europa’s hidden waters are the front-runnerfor extraterrestrial life.

heat source from within) over a time span long enough for life to evolve," Cochrane said.

Until that time, it’s hard to comment on whether it is probable."

But there’s a growing case for life on Callisto.

It hasa surprising amount of oxygen, and no one can figure out where most of it came from.