"Science is fun. Science is curiosity. We all have natural curiosity. Science is a process of investigating. It's posing questions and coming up with a method. It's delving in."
-- Sally Ride
Europa, a moon that orbits Jupiter, looks like an inert icy ball from the outside. However, many astronomers theorize that there is an Earth-like ocean underneath the crust. This crust could also be hiding energy sources. Therefore, conditions for life may indeed exist on Europa!
A team of scientists recently re-evaluated some of the data from the Galileo spacecraft, which orbited Jupiter for the length of its mission. During this time, Galileo also passed between Europa and the planet.
Now, it has been concluded by the group that magnetic field signatures associated with these instances may indicate the presence of water-vapor plumes emanating from Europa. If this turns out to be correct, Galileo may even have passed through such a plume on its orbital path.
These exciting possibilities may be confirmed in an upcoming mission to the potentially-alive moon.
Europa, a moon that orbits Jupiter, looks like an inert icy ball from the outside. However, many astronomers theorize that there is an Earth-like ocean underneath the crust. This crust could also be hiding energy sources. Therefore, conditions for life may indeed exist on Europa!
A team of scientists recently re-evaluated some of the data from the Galileo spacecraft, which orbited Jupiter for the length of its mission. During this time, Galileo also passed between Europa and the planet.
Now, it has been concluded by the group that magnetic field signatures associated with these instances may indicate the presence of water-vapor plumes emanating from Europa. If this turns out to be correct, Galileo may even have passed through such a plume on its orbital path.
These exciting possibilities may be confirmed in an upcoming mission to the potentially-alive moon.
Europa, Jupiter’s Moon, May Be The Best Candidate To Harbor Alien Life, 2018, Evolving Science, evolving-science.com/space-stars/europa-jupiter-moon-candidate-harbor-alien-life-00664, (accessed 29 May 2018)