Ice planet facts for kids
An ice planet is a type of exoplanet where everything is frozen solid. Scientists believe these planets exist, even though none have been officially discovered yet.
These planets might have surfaces covered in ice made of substances that would be gases on Earth. These include things like water, ammonia, and methane. Imagine a whole planet completely covered in ice – that's what an ice planet would be like! They are like much larger versions of the small, icy worlds in our own Solar System. Think of moons like Europa, Enceladus, and Triton, or dwarf planets such as Pluto and Eris.
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What are Ice Planets Like?
Ice planets are thought to be completely frozen on their surface. This means they have a global cryosphere, which is a fancy word for a frozen layer. The ice isn't just water ice; it could be made of other frozen gases too.
Hidden Oceans
Some ice worlds might even have oceans hidden deep beneath their icy surfaces. These hidden oceans could be warmed by heat coming from inside the planet itself. They could also be warmed by strong pulling forces (called tidal forces) from another large object nearby, like a giant planet.
Could Life Exist on Ice Planets?
If there are liquid oceans under the ice, these places might be able to support life! The conditions could be just right for tiny living things, called microorganisms, to survive. These tiny creatures might create their own food and energy using special chemicals. This process is called chemosynthesis. This could then provide food for other organisms.
Some planets, if they have the right conditions, might even have thick atmospheres and liquids on their surface. For example, Titan, one of Saturn's moons, has a thick atmosphere and liquid methane lakes. Such places could potentially be home to unusual forms of life.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Ganymede, the largest known solid icy body in the Solar System
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OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb is likely an ice planet
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OGLE-2013-BLG-0341LB b
See also
In Spanish: Planeta helado para niños
