icybody
Icybody is a term used in planetary science to refer to a natural astronomical object whose mass is dominated by volatile ices, such as water ice, methane ice, ammonia ice, or carbon dioxide ice. Icy bodies are most common in the outer solar system but can be found in distant regions such as the Oort cloud. The term encompasses a range of objects, including comets, centaurs, trans-Neptunian objects, dwarf planets with substantial ice, and icy moons.
Composition and structure: Surfaces often display a mix of water ice and other volatiles. Ice may be
Formation and distribution: Icy bodies formed beyond the solar system’s snow line, where ices could condensate
Observation and exploration: Icy bodies are studied via ground-based telescopes, space telescopes, and spacecraft flybys or
Notable examples: Comets such as Halley’s Comet are classic icy bodies; Pluto and its moon Charon are