What physical characteristic must a theoretical large asteroid possess to maintain subsurface liquid water over geological timescales?
Answer
Substantial mass/size, potentially hundreds of kilometers across
For life-supporting conditions, such as sustained liquid water, to exist deep underground for geological timescales, the body must be large enough to counteract the intense cold sink of space. Smaller bodies rapidly lose internal heat and their volatiles sublimate or freeze solid. Theoretical models suggest that very large asteroids, potentially hundreds of kilometers in diameter, possess the necessary structural integrity and retain enough internal warmth, either from accretion or residual heat, to prevent water from rapidly freezing or being lost to sublimation, thus providing a stable environment.
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