What Is It About Europa Anyway?

• Jupiter�s moon Europa may have a deep, liquid-water ocean

  • Best estimates suggest ice is ~20km deep, with a total depth of water to �100km
  • Heat flow from the interior 10-30% of Earth (10-30 mW/m2 on average).

• If an ocean is found, their may be an opportunity for aqueous chemistry, an origin of life, and the evolutionary �experiment.�

• Europa has all of the raw materials required to support �life-as-we-know-it,� but the questions are more �whether, where, when and how much?�

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version