NASA's Juno mission has discovered mineral salts and organic compounds on Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede.
2
Data
The findings are based on data from Juno's onboard spectrometer as it made a flyby of Ganymede in June 2021.
3
Insights
Ganymede has been of interest as it's believed to contain a hidden ocean beneath an icy exterior. The latest findings could enhance our understanding of the Jovian moon.
4
Organics
Juno's onboard spectrometer provided unprecedented spatial resolution, identifying organic compounds such as hydrated sodium chloride and ammonium chloride.
5
Theory
The presence of these salts suggests Ganymede may have accumulated cold materials during its formation, per Juno's co-investigator.
6
Deep ocean brine
Juno's principal investigator, Scott Bolton, believes the findings indicate remnants of a deep ocean brine that reached Ganymede's surface.