Planetary Group Seminar: A subsurface ocean in Ganymede from HST observations and modeling of its aurora (J. Saur)

A subsurface ocean in Ganymede from HST observations and modeling of its aurora Abstract: Ganymede is the only known moon in the solar system with two auroral ovals and an intrinsic dynamo magnetic field. An important unresolved question about Ganymede is whether it harbors a subsurface water ocean. Based on Hubble Space Telescope observations of the dynamics of its aurora combined with a new magneto-hydrodynamic model of Ganymede’s interaction with Jupiter’s magnetosphere, we provide evidence for the presence of such an ocean.