Cutaway illustration of Europa (IMAGE)

Southwest Research Institute

Cutaway illustration of Europa

Caption

NASA’s Juno mission, led by an SwRI scientist, recently provided the first resolved subsurface measurements of the ice-encased Jovian moon Europa. This cutaway illustration shows an 18-mile-thick shell with a shallow layer containing small imperfections — cracks, pores and voids. The icy moon is thought to harbor a vast ocean beneath its icy exterior that could contain the ingredients for life. 

 

 

Credit

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/K. Kuramura

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