Solar System Exploration
During June, NASA, NOAA, and people around the world are celebrating Earth’s Ocean as part of National Ocean Month. NASA has been observing Earth's ocean from space for more than 20 years. Now, NASA is launching missions to explore other ocean worlds.
Why Oceans Matter
The story of oceans is the story of life.
Life as we know it requires three ingredients: energy, organic molecules, and liquid water. Our search for life beyond Earth is, in part, a search for planets and moons that harbor substantial liquid water. We call these places “ocean worlds,” and we’re learning that they could be ubiquitous in the galaxy.
As we learn more about our own ocean, we better understand these worlds beyond Earth. NASA has missions planned to explore two ocean moons.
NASA Missions to Ocean Worlds
Europa Clipper
NASA's Europa Clipper is launching Oct. 10, 2024, on the first mission to conduct a detailed science investigation of Jupiter's moon Europa. Scientists predict Europa has a salty ocean beneath its icy crust that could hold the building blocks necessary to sustain life.
Learn About Europa ClipperDragonfly
Making multiple flights, the Dragonfly rotorcraft will explore a variety of locations on Saturn's moon Titan. Titan’s abundant complex carbon-rich chemistry, interior ocean, and past presence of liquid water on the surface make it an ideal destination to study prebiotic chemical processes and the potential habitability of an extraterrestrial environment.
Learn About DragonflyFeatured Ocean Worlds
Europa
Europa is the fourth largest of Jupiter’s 95 moons. Scientists believe it has a saltwater ocean beneath its icy shell, holding twice as much water as Earth's global ocean.
Titan
Saturn’s largest moon Titan has liquids like methane and ethane flowing on its surface. Beneath Titan’s thick crust of water ice is more liquid—an ocean primarily of water.
Enceladus
Saturn’s moon Enceladus is a small, icy world that has geyser-like jets spewing water vapor and ice particles into space.
Ganymede
Jupiter’s icy moon Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system. There’s strong evidence Ganymede has an underground saltwater ocean that may hold more water than all the water on Earth's surface.
Callisto
Once thought to be a dead world, data gathered by NASA's Galileo spacecraft indicates Callisto may have a salty ocean beneath its icy surface.
Learn More About Ocean Worlds
Explore a collection of ocean world resources, including activities, videos, animations, printable graphics, and online interactives.
Learn MoreOcean Worlds: Water in the Solar System and Beyond
The story of oceans is the story of life. Life as we know it requires three ingredients: energy, organic molecules,…
Read the StoryNASA’s Juno Mission Measures Oxygen Production at Europa
The ice-covered Jovian moon generates 1,000 tons of oxygen every 24 hours – enough to keep a million humans breathing…
Read the StoryNASA's Eyes on Earth
Learn about Earth's ocean with our immersive real-time 3D web-based Eyes on Earth app. Monitor sea level, sea surface temperature and more.
Explore Eyes10 THINGS about our solar system
Latest News
Hubble Views the Lights of a Galactic Bar
June’s Night Sky Notes: Constant Companions: Circumpolar Constellations, Part III
What’s Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA
The Moon and Amaey Shah