Celestial Mechanics Predicts Tidal Heating

Moons can cook themselves internally.

Orbital resonances and eccentric orbits generate tidal forces, flexing a moon’s interior and producing heat.

Why This Matters

This explains volcanic activity on moons like Io.

It’s important for studying habitability and geology of exoplanet moons.

Did You Know?

Jupiter’s moon Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system due to tidal heating.

Source

[NASA, nasa.gov]

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