What do we know about tectonics on icy moons?

Tectonic activities have been studied on several icy moons, which are natural satellites with surfaces composed mostly of ice and underlying oceans. On moons like Ganymede, disrupted geology such as extensive grooves and ridges points to past tectonic processes. These tectonic features are believed to be potentially driven by tidal heating and internal forces.

What we know

• Tectonic activities have been studied and documented on several icy moons in the solar system. [2]
• Icy moons are natural satellites whose surfaces are composed mostly of ice and may harbor underground oceans. [3]
• Ganymede features lighter regions crosscut by extensive grooves and ridges covering two-thirds of its surface. [5]
• The disrupted geology of Ganymede's light terrain may be the result of tectonic activity driven by tidal heating. [5] · medium confidence

Still open

• The exact cause of the light terrain's disrupted geology and tectonic activity on Ganymede is not fully known.

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureWhat are icy moons and where do they form?
• how we knowHow does the Juice spacecraft study Jupiter's moons?
• a case in pointWhat geological features exist on Ganymede?
• how it workedHow does tidal heating affect planetary satellites?
• what caused itWhat creates the subsurface oceans on icy moons?
• an unexpected connectionHow does Ganymede compare in size to the planet Mercury?Ganymede is larger than the planet Mercury, even though it is classified as a moon orbiting Jupiter.

Sources

• [1]Tectonics on icy moons (Wikidata Q106839731) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Tectonics on icy moons · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Icy moon · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Ganymede (moon) · CC BY-SA 4.0