this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2023
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Astronomy

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Icy Oceans Exist on Far-Off Moons. Why Aren’t They Frozen Solid? | Quanta Magazine (www.quantamagazine.org)
submitted 2 years ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/astronomy@mander.xyz
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[–] Psiczar@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago

Not an expert but I imagine it’s the ocean depth. If the atmosphere above determines the temperature, and the ice at the surface acts as an insulator, the deeper parts of the ocean don't get cold enough to freeze.