What the study suggests
A study presented by NASA in 2023 examined the internal structure of the five large moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon. Models indicate that Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon could retain an ocean layer between their cores and icy crusts.
Models and observations
These oceans have not been observed directly. The findings combine available data with assumptions about composition and thermal evolution: new close-up measurements would help test the models.
A system still to explore
Voyager 2 flew past Uranus in 1986; its data remain valuable, but do not reveal everything inside the moons. Understanding where liquid water could persist helps scientists study environments in the outer Solar System.