Triton: Fascinating Moon, Likely Ocean World, Compelling Destination!
Abstract
Triton is an important signpost in understanding the diverse populations of both ocean worlds and Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs). As a likely ocean world, it is unique by virtue of its kidnapped history from the Kuiper Belt: its large orbital inclination makes it the only ocean world thought to be primarily heated by obliquity tides. It is volatile-rich due to its formation in the outer solar system and its unusual surface geology may be the product of cryovolcanism. Observations from New Horizons and Cassini motivate re-examination of Triton data sets and models, with value for comparative planetology of ocean worlds and KBOs, most notably with Europa, Enceladus, Titan, and Pluto. We re-explore old data sets with the new perspective of the importance of ocean worlds in our solar system and the search for life.
- Publication:
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The Planetary Science Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2021
- DOI:
- 10.3847/PSJ/abffd2
- Bibcode:
- 2021PSJ.....2..137H
- Keywords:
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- Triton;
- 2187