Phase Diagram of Water
Europa
History
Earth
- Europa was discovered by Galileo Galilei
- It's 1 of the 4 Galilean satellites
Europa vs Earth
Atmospheric Gases
Earth
- Under its ice water crust it holds 3-4 times the water Earth holds
- Although Europa experiences severely low temperatures (−260 °F) it is able to keep most of its massive ocean in a liquid state due to tidal flexing as it orbits around Jupiter
- Earth's regulation of water is aided by its proximity to the Sun and its large atmosphere
Katie
Reyes
Atmosphere
- Europas atmosphere contains a lot of radiation due to Jupiter's Jovian magnetosphere (very deadly)
- Generally weak atmosphere, mostly composed of oxygen
- Earths atmospheric oxygen is biologically produced, Europas is made up of charged particles
Life...
...may only ever exist on Earth
Work Cited
"Europa: Overview." Solar System Exploration. Kristen Erickson, n.d. Web. 17 June 2015.
"Europa." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 June 2015.
National Geographic PUBLISHED February 20, 2015. "Scientists Plan to Hunt for Alien Life on Europa." National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 15 June 2015.
SPACE.com. "Europa - Facts And Information About Jupiter Moon Europa | Space.com." Space.com. N.p., 9 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.
Geosphere
Biosphere
- Icy surface covered in cracks and diagonal crisscrossing lines
- Not entirely suitable for life
- Fatal amount of radiation
- Dangerously low temperatures
- Needs a larger atmosphere like Earths' that could regulate weather and protect it
- Its core is made up of metallic iron
- "Clay-like materials (like organic materials on Earth) detected on its crust
- Tidal forces from Jupiter cause subduction and crustal spreading (similar to plate tectonics)