Solar System Volcanoes and Iron Lava | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Volcanic activity is not limited to Earth, as evidence from celestial bodies like Neptune's moon Triton, Mars, Venus, the Moon, Io, and asteroid 16 Psyche suggests. However, many questions regarding these volcanoes and their characteristics remain unanswered.

Key Insights

• 👪 The outer solar system is home to surprising levels of volcanic activity, such as cryogeysers on Triton and cryovolcanic activity on Pluto's moon Charon.
• 🤕 Determining the age and extent of volcanic activity on Mars remains challenging, with meteorites showing conflicting evidence.
• 👨‍🔬 Venus, once highly volcanic, may still have active volcanoes, but more research is needed due to the planet's thick atmosphere.
• 💐 The Moon has evidence of extended volcanic activity, with recent findings suggesting younger lava flows and potential subsurface magma pockets.
• 🥮 Io is a highly active moon with ongoing volcanic eruptions caused by tidal forces from Jupiter.

Transcript

One of the great surprises since the 1980’s has been how active the outer solar system is. In 1989 Voyager two completed it’s grand tour of the giant planets with a flyby of Neptune. Neptune itself was a surprise in those days sporting weather systems, and it’s own giant spot that happened to be raging just when the spacecraft passed by. But also i... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What surprising discoveries were made during Voyager 2's flyby of Neptune and its moon Triton?

Voyager 2's flyby revealed the presence of cryogeysers on Triton, contradicting the previous assumption that it was a frozen wasteland. These cryogeysers are similar to hot water geysers on Earth and suggest low-temperature activity in the outer solar system.

Q: What is the Shergottite Age Paradox, and how does it relate to Martian volcanic meteorites?

The Shergottite Age Paradox refers to the discrepancy between the young age of Shergottites (about 180 million years old) and the ancient nature of most Martian surface features. It remains unclear whether volcanism on Mars lasted much longer than previously thought or if the methods used to determine meteorite age are flawed.

Q: Is there any evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars?

While no volcanic eruptions have been detected on Mars, there is evidence of recent volcanic activity based on the presence of relatively young volcanic landforms and the age of Martian meteorites (as recent as 53,000 years ago).

Q: What is the significance of the iron-rich asteroid 16 Psyche?

16 Psyche exhibits high concentrations of surface metals, suggesting the possibility of iron lava eruptions in its early history. Studying this asteroid could provide insights into the differentiation of iron and silicate lavas, planetary core formation, and the origin of iron meteorites.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Volcanic activity has been observed in unexpected places, such as Neptune's moon Triton and Pluto's moon Charon, challenging previous notions about icy worlds in the outer solar system.

• Mars and its volcanoes have provided evidence through meteorites (Shergottites and Nakhlites) suggesting past and potentially recent volcanic activity, raising the question of whether volcanism is still active on Mars.

• Venus, once one of the most volcanic bodies in the solar system, may still have active volcanoes, but limited studies and its thick atmosphere make it difficult to determine conclusively.

• The Moon shows evidence of extended volcanic activity, with recent findings indicating younger lava flows and the possibility of lingering magma reservoirs beneath the surface.

• Io, a moon of Jupiter, is highly volcanically active due to tidal forces that keep its interior molten. Despite the inhospitable conditions, there is speculation about the potential existence of microbial life.

• The asteroid 16 Psyche, known for its high metal concentration, may provide insights into volcanic processes such as ferrovolcanism, which could explain the presence of iron lava on its surface.