Monday, 26 September 2016

Ocean spray: Europa plumes seem to be showering its surface with water

A global saltwater ocean is thought to be hiding beneath Europa's icy exterior

Of all the bodies in our solar system, none arouse the interest of life-seeking astronomers in quite the way Europa does. As one of Jupiter's four largest moons, the satellite has drawn the interest of scientists for decades not because of its frosty, inhospitable surface, but the salty global ocean thought to be hidden within. But how can a body of water be examined for signs of life when packed away under miles of solid ice? New evidence revealed by NASA today suggests Europa might just offer us a helping hand, by ejecting water plumes out into space and spraying its surface with more easily sampled material in the process.

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Category: Space

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