Europa Moon Facts
Europa is one of the Galilean moons of planet Jupiter. It is the smallest and the sixth closest moon of Jupiter. This unique object of the solar system is completely frozen. It is the smoothest object in the entire solar system as its surface is made up of frozen water. Galileo officially discovered this moon on January 8, 1610. Europa moon is about 4.5 billion years old.
Quick Facts: –
- Many scientists believe that Europa has a liquid ocean of saltwater beneath its icy surface.
- Europa moon takes 3.551 earth days to rotate on its axis.
- This moon has a very weak atmosphere. It consists of nothing but oxygen so it is not breathable by human standards.
- Europa is locked by gravity to Jupiter so it is always the same side of the moon that faces the Planet Jupiter.
- Most part of Europa moon is made up of rock.
- None of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter can be seen with a naked eye but they can be seen through a small telescope.
- This moon is named after a noblewoman, Europa from Greek mythology. Europa was the daughter of the King of Tyre.
- After the discovery of Europa, scientists realized that earth was not the centre of our solar system and all the planet, including earth revolves around sun.
- There are visible cracks on its surface that must have caused by the rising and fall of ocean water.
- This moon has a nearly circular orbit.
- Europa moon has a very high radiation of 5400 mSv.
- Galileo himself named the Galilean moons as Medicean Planets in order to honour the Medici family.
- This moon has a diameter of 3,100 kilometres that makes it bigger than the Dwarf planet Pluto but still it is smaller than earth’s moon.
