Astronomers have obtained one more proof that under the surface of Europa, icy moon of Jupiter, the erupting fountains of water vapor. For the first time scientists have made such an assumption in 2013, when the space telescope “Hubble” managed to capture such phenomena. But only now had another observation that would confirm or refute the initial findings.
According to scientists, this discovery is particularly important since Europe and its vast subsurface ocean of liquid water – one of the most likely places to search for microbial life beyond Earth. In addition, new observations of geysers will give scientists hope that in the future spacecraft will be able to take water samples from the subsurface of Europa’s ocean without much difficulty, for example, drilling a thick layer of ice.
“the Ocean of Europa is considered one of the most promising areas that can potentially support life in the Solar system. These plumes of water, if they actually exist, can give another way of getting the much-needed samples from the bowels of the satellite,” says Jeff Yoder (Geoff Yoder), assistant head of the Directorate of scientific missions for NASA.
the Research team under the leadership of William sparks (William Sparks) from Science Institute space telescope using Hubble observed the projection of emissions in the moment when the satellite passed in front of Jupiter. The initial objective was to determine whether Europe is sparse, extended atmosphere or exosphere. But soon scientists realized that their method of observation to determine the atmosphere suitable to study another question – is there on the satellite water vapor rising from the surface of Europe.
it is Noted that for 15 months, scientists have been able three times to fix the emissions, presumably consisting of water. Sharks says he cannot even imagine another explanation for this phenomenon. “We do not claim that to prove the existence of plumes, but we gave evidence that such a phenomenon could take place,” he says.
Recall that in 2012, the research team, working under the supervision of Lorenz Company Lorenz Roth of the southwest research Institute, USA, presented his proof of the existence of pillars of water vapor erupting from the South pole of cold of Europe and reaching a height of 160 kilometers.
Both teams of scientists used in the research tool the Hubble STIS, but each group used its own independent method. Both teams eventually came to the same conclusions.
According to the latest estimates, the fountain rises to a height of about 200 kilometers, and then, presumably, returns to the surface of Europe in the form of rain.
Planetary scientists believe that Jupiter’s moon has a vast subsurface ocean, it contains two times more water than on Earth. However, the ocean is covered with an extremely cold and hard ice. The exact thickness of the latter is unknown. That is why the researchers believe that the plumes are a great opportunity to gather water samples.
At this point two options have been proposed for obtaining samples. According to the first, the future spacecraft that will be sent to Europe, could fly through the jets of water vapor of one of the loops and so try to collect samples of discarded material. It is possible that these samples can be send to Earth for more detailed study.
the Second option is to land a probe on the moon’s surface and try to drill the thick ice to explore the ocean of Europa.
At the moment, astronomers also know that any activity of possible fountains in Europe, there is only sporadic; and the reason is still unknown.
it is Noted that the Agency NASA and the European space Agency have plans to send missions to Europe. They will probably be able to shed light whether on Saturn there are the mysterious geysers. If it is confirmed that Europe will become a second moon in the Solar system, which showed the plume of water vapor. Recall that in 2005, the apparatus Cassini (Cassini) fixed jet of water vapor and dust, rising above the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
Planetary scientists also suggest that subsurface oceans are present on Ganymede and dione, and the ocean of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn — and at salinity similar to the Dead sea.
the Results of this study are published in the scientific journal The Astrophysical Journal.
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