What is Europa?

Answer 1

Ah, Europa, one of my favorite astronomy topics! Europa is very different from other moons in the solar system! It has a magnetic field, which is most likely caused by oceans of liquid salt water under its icy surface. Despite being super far from the sun, it's actually not so cold on Europe because of basically a gravitational tug of war between Jupiter, Io, and Ganymede. Scientists think that there might be life there!

Answer 2

Europa is primarily made of silicate rock and likely has an iron core. It has a tenuous atmosphere composed primarily of oxygen. Its surface is composed of ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System. This surface is striated by cracks and streaks, while craters are relatively infrequent. The apparent youth and smoothness of the surface have led to the hypothesis that a water ocean exists beneath it, which could conceivably serve as an abode for extraterrestrial life.This hypothesis proposes that heat energy from tidal flexing causes the ocean to remain liquid and drives geological activity similar to plate tectonics.

Answer 3

Europa is a moon of Jupiter.

It is unique in that is has an extensive crust of ice, leading astronomers to believe that it may harbour an extensive ocean below it's surface.