Europa is Jupiter’s fourth-largest satellite and sixth-largest moon in the solar system.
Europa was discovered by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610. It was probably also discovered independently that same year by the German astronomer Simon Marius, who named it Europa, after a figure from Greek Mythology.
Europa is an icy moon, being the closest orbiting Jupiter of the three icy Galilean moons. Probably having an iron–nickel core, it consists mainly of silicate rock, with a water–ice shell. Europa has a very thin atmosphere, composed primarily of oxygen.
For many years, scientists have been researching life beyond our beautiful planet Earth. Though we have not succeeded in doing so, Europa may be one of the most promising places in our solar system to find a present-day environment suitable for some form of life beyond Earth.
Scientist believes that beneath the icy shell of Europa lies a saltwater ocean, holding twice as much water as Earth’s global ocean.
Researchers also believe in the existence of chemical elements which are required to form life.
What is the Europa Clipper?
NASA launched Europa Clipper on October 14th 2024. The purpose of this mission is to explore Europa and to conduct a detailed study of the oceans and life on the satellite.
The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to reach Jupiter in 2030. It will orbit Jupiter and will conduct 49 close flybys of Europa.
The spacecraft carries nine science instruments and a gravity experiment that uses the telecommunication system. On every pass, the science instruments will work simultaneously.
Do you think scientists will succeed in finding life on Europa?
