Images captured by the Juno spacecraft in 2022 further support the hypothesis that Europa, a moon of Jupiter, indeed harbors a hidden ocean of liquid saltwater deep beneath its icy surface.
Many clues indicate that Europe, this large moon of Jupiter, may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface. Its young, featureless surface with observed geysers spewing water vapor suggests that it sits atop a liquid layer that could potentially host extraterrestrial life.
Due to a lack of direct data, very little is known about this hidden ocean. However, new images released by NASA and captured by the Juno spacecraft in September 2022 show that this ocean would be closely interacting with Europa’s surface.
A Plume of Saltwater Rising to the Surface
The chaotic area named Platypus (the platypus in English), measuring 37 x 67 kilometers, has long intrigued scientists. Comprised of huge blocks and ridges, this surface is relatively young and stands out from the surrounding icy crust by its brownish-red color. Through a detailed analysis of Juno’s images, researchers suggest that Platypus could represent a highly localized upwelling zone of saltwater from the subglacial ocean. These findings were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in late 2023.
A Free-Moving Ice Crust Above the Hidden Ocean
Other images, more recently published in The Planetary Science Journal, show that the ice crust is affected by depressions 20 to 50 kilometers wide, marked by steep walls. These observed “fossae” at different locations are believed to be associated with the movement of the ice crust above the liquid water ocean.
The exploration of this icy moon is set to continue with the launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft this year, expected to arrive in the vicinity of Jupiter by 2030.