Europa: Facts - NASA Science
WebEuropa’s surface is made of water ice and so it reflects 5.5 times the sunlight than our Moon does. Europa orbits Jupiter at about 417,000 miles (671,000 kilometers) from the planet, which itself orbits the Sun at a distance of roughly 500 million miles (780 million kilometers), or 5.2 astronomical units (AU).
Europa (Moon) Facts
WebEuropa is nearly the same size as Earth’s Moon. It is tidally locked to Jupiter in its orbit and spins faster on its axis than it orbits. Its orbit is nearly circular. As Europa orbits Jupiter, it comes ever so slightly closer to the planet. That increases the gravitational pull on Europa, and distorts its shape.
Europa (moon) - Wikipedia
WebPhysical characteristics. Size comparison of Europa ( lower left) with the Moon ( top left) and Earth ( right) Europa is slightly smaller than the Earth's moon. At just over 3,100 kilometres (1,900 mi) in diameter, it is the sixth-largest moon and fifteenth-largest object in the Solar System.
Europa: A guide to Jupiter's icy moon | Space
WebMay 3, 2023 · Europa is an icy moon of Jupiter and one of the four so-called Galilean moons of Jupiter. See more facts about Europa and its history here.
Europa - NASA Science
WebEuropa Overview. Europa is the fourth largest of Jupiter’s 95 moons. It's the sixth-closest moon to the planet. Europa and Jupiter’s three other largest moons – Io, Ganymede, and Callisto – were the first moons discovered beyond Earth.
Overview | Why Europa – NASA's Europa Clipper
WebScientists describe Europa as an "ocean world" because decades of evidence from analysis of spacecraft observations strongly suggest that an ocean of liquid water is hidden beneath the moon’s surface of ice.
Europa: Jupiter's Ocean World - NASA Space Place
WebApr 22, 2024 · Water is a key ingredient for life. Scientists think that Europa has lots of water. In fact, it might have more than twice as much water as Earth. However, it’s so cold there that any water on the surface is frozen as hard as rock. What could possibly live there?
Europa Up Close | Why Europa – NASA's Europa Clipper
Web100. Earth’s first mission to conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. NASA’s Europa Clipper will determine if this ocean world has environments suitable for life to exist.
Europa: Exploration - NASA Science
WebEuropa was one of the first moons found beyond Earth, and it’s discovery played a crucial role in understanding how our solar system works. Six spacecraft have visited Europa up close, and more missions are planned.
Europa | Facts, Composition & Exploration | Britannica
WebApr 1, 2024 · Europa has a diameter of 3,130 km (1,940 miles), which makes it a little smaller than Earth’s Moon. It orbits Jupiter at a distance of about 671,000 km (417,000 miles). Europa’s density of 3.0 grams per cubic cm indicates that it consists predominantly of rock with a fairly small proportion of frozen or liquid water.
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