EuropaBy Danny and Dane

What is Europa?

Europa is the sixth moon of Jupiter’s 67 moons.

It is frozen over by ice. There is a possibly of water

underneath its surface.

Important Features

Supposedly, Europa has an outer layer of water around 100 km (62 mi) thick

The crust is estimated to have undergone a shift of 80°

Europa's surface temperature averages about 110 K

Planet Characteristics

Its radius is 1,569 km Its density is 3.01 g/cm An axial tilt of 0.1° A volume of 1.593×1010

Has a Mass of 4.80×1022

Diagram

Internal Structure

Scientists belive that Europa has an outter layer of water that is 100km thick

Probably sea of salty liquid This layer is predicted to be made of both

water and ice It is the sixth largest moon and the

fifteenth largest object in the universe It also holds a metalic iron core Parts of Europa’s crust is said to have

shifted by about 80 degrees which would not be possible without the pressence of water

Surface Features

One of the smoothest objects in the solar system

The surface of Europa is smooth because it is very young and active

The radiation is very high which would cause harm to human beings who endure it

The icy crust on Europa cause it to be shiny and reflective

The surface is around twenty to 180 million years old

Lineae

The dark crisscrossing lines on the surface of Europa are its most remarkable feature

The larger lines on the surface are about 20 miles across!

The reason for the cracks are said to be because the crust opens up to expose the expanding warmer layers beneath

Jupiter’s pull and the fact that Europa’s crust rotates faster than its core could explain the cracks also

Other Geological Features

There are also features called lenticulae, they are dark and raised circular landforms

The domes that are formed seem to be pushed up from under the crust

Reasoning behind this is that the warmer ice pushes up through the colder ice against the surface

Atmosphere

Europa’s atmosphere is said to be made up of mostly oxygen molecules

The surface pressure of Europa is 10^-12 times of Earths

But it is not that type of oxygen found on earth, the oxygen on Europa is starts with water then is split by radiation forming hydrogen and oxygen molecules

The oxygen stays in the atmosphere while the hydrogen molecules are too light and escapes the atmosphere

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-6uec2j1Y4