Question

Why are we particularly interested in studying the moons Europa, Enceladus, and Ganymede?

a) Because they tell us what conditions were like when the solar system formed.
b) Because they are geologically active, but there are no good hypotheses as to why.
c) Because they are involved in a three-way orbital resonance with one another.
d) Because they all have thick atmospheres which suggest that they might sustain life.
e) Because they contain liquid water, which is necessary to sustain Earth-like life.

Answer 1

We study moons Europa, Enceladus, and Ganymede because they harbor liquid water beneath their surfaces, which is essential for life as we know it, making them interesting for astrobiology research and potential habitats for extraterrestrial life.

Step-by-step explanation:

We are particularly interested in studying the moons Europa, Enceladus, and Ganymede because they contain liquid water, which is necessary to sustain Earth-like life (e). These moons are intriguing to astrobiologists due to the evidence suggesting they have subsurface oceans. Europa, a moon of Jupiter, is an active world with an icy surface that conceals an ocean. This ocean is kept in a liquid state due to heating from tidal forces generated by Jupiter's gravity. Similarly, Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Ganymede show indications of geological activity and are believed to harbor liquid water underneath their surfaces, making them prime targets for future explorations in the search for extraterrestrial life.