The reason why the Galilean satellites don't fit the "plan" of terrestrial worlds (very deep oceans/icey crusts despite their small size) is that they formed in parallel with their parent gas giant, beyond the "frost line" in the Solar system, so they have a much higher ice:rock ratio than terrestrial planets.
Indeed, some planetary scientists contend that much or most of the water on Earth was delivered at a late stage by comets etc, rather than sweated out of its body from original hydrous minerals.
This make an Earthlike outcome much more random. OTOH, it lets you make smaller or larger worlds occasionally have enough and not too much ocean to be Earthlike, but different!
Lots of fun and games in the planetary factory, folks!
Space/Science » in reply to re: Water Giant? - or how to bake your own planet at home
P.S. Re: WaterMoons
The whole thread (23 posts)
- 5 new gas giant planets - one in the habitable zone?
- re: HD 188015 b
