Is there life in Europe: the availability of water gives hope to scientists

Scientists are actively searching for extraterrestrial life both in our galaxy and beyond. Any object that in its parameters is close to the Earth or, by indirect signs, may contain ice or water, automatically falls into the list of potentially inhabited celestial bodies. This time, the attention of scientists was attracted by Europe - the satellite of Jupiter.

Europe is one of the largest moons of Jupiter, which was discovered back in 1610 by Galileo Galilei. In its size, Europe is smaller than our moon, and its diameter is 3,122 kilometers. According to scientists, Europe has a fairly high density, which indicates its silicate composition. This, in turn, may indicate that Europe in its geological structure is close to the terrestrial planets. Europe is always turned to Jupiter on one side.

Researchers believe that the surface of Europe consists of water, which is present in solid (ice) and liquid state. This is indicated by a fairly flat satellite surface with a high reflective surface. Water in Europe is most likely salty, as evidenced by the good electrical conductivity of this layer of water. The temperature on the surface of Europe differs significantly depending on the location: at the poles this indicator is about 50 K (-223 ° C), and at the equator - about 110 K (-163 ° C).

Despite such harsh temperature conditions, scientists believe that among more than 60 satellites of the gas giant, Europe is the most likely place of origin of life. It is assumed that in such extreme conditions, microorganisms may well inhabit. To shed light on the secrets of Europe, NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper mission to this satellite, the launch of which is scheduled for June 2022.