Europa’s surface is primarily composed of water ice, with features resembling cracked and broken plates. This icy crust suggests that a subsurface ocean may exist beneath it.
Beneath its icy surface, Europa is believed to harbor a vast subsurface ocean, potentially containing more than twice the amount of water found on Earth, which raises the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
The combination of a subsurface ocean, heat from tidal flexing (caused by Jupiter’s gravitational pull), and a rocky seafloor creates an environment that could support microbial life.
Europa has a very thin atmosphere, primarily composed of oxygen. However, this atmosphere is not dense enough to support human life and is not considered breathable.
The average surface temperature on Europa is around -260 degrees Fahrenheit (-162 degrees Celsius). This extreme cold contributes to the formation of its icy surface and impacts its geological activity.
Europa exhibits signs of geological activity, including ridges, pits, and chaotic terrain, indicating that it may be geologically young and dynamic, reshaping its surface over time.
Europa has been a target for numerous space missions, including NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, which studied the moon in detail, and upcoming missions like the Europa Clipper, set to launch in the 2020s to further explore its ocean.
Europa is influenced by Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field, which induces electric currents in its subsurface ocean. These currents are detected by spacecraft, providing insights into the moon’s composition and ocean.