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ORBONIX · JUPITER SYSTEM
EUROPA
A frozen ocean world covered by a shell
of water ice and one of the most intriguing
places to search for extraterrestrial life.
EUROPA · JUPITER'S MOON
671,100 km
DISTANCE FROM JUPITER
3,122 km
DIAMETER
3.55 DAYS
ORBITAL PERIOD
3.55 DAYS
ROTATION PERIOD
3.01 g/cm³
AVERAGE DENSITY
~100 km+
ESTIMATED OCEAN DEPTH
AN OCEAN BENEATH THE ICE
Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's
four Galilean moons.
Its surface is covered by a thick shell
of water ice crossed by enormous cracks,
ridges and reddish-brown markings.
Scientists have strong evidence that
a global salty ocean exists beneath
Europa's frozen surface.
The ocean may contain more water than
all of Earth's oceans combined.
Because Europa has liquid water,
chemical ingredients and an internal
source of energy, it is considered one
of the most promising places in the
Solar System to investigate the potential
for environments suitable for life.
SUBSURFACE OCEAN
A huge salty ocean is believed to exist
beneath Europa's outer ice shell.
ICE CRUST
Europa's surface is dominated by water
ice and enormous intersecting fractures.
POSSIBLE HABITABILITY
Liquid water, chemistry and internal
energy make Europa a major target in
the search for potentially habitable
environments.
DID YOU KNOW?
Europa's hidden ocean may contain
more water than all of Earth's
oceans combined.
IMAGE:
NASA / JPL / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS