Ceres, Dione, and Ariel

In this ninth chapter, following our exploration of confirmed ocean worlds such as Enceladus, Europa, Titan, Ganymede, and Callisto in preceding chapters, we shift our focus to the intriguing dwarf planet Ceres, along with the moons Dione and Ariel. Despite lacking definitive proof, we examine compelling observations suggesting that these planetary bodies likely harbor subsurface oceans. Through a comprehensive overview of these bodies and the spacecraft that visited them, we delve into the geological features and characteristics of Ceres, Dione, and Ariel, shedding light on the factors contributing to their potential for hosting liquid water beneath their surfaces. We also evaluate their capacity to support life in the past, and potentially even at present.