Moon
Europa
Galilean moon of Jupiter
An ocean hidden beneath the ice
Europa's cracked ice shell is thought to cover a global saltwater ocean holding more water than all of Earth's oceans — one of the most promising places to search for life.
Key facts
Distance
671,000 km from Jupiter
Diameter
3,122 km
Orbital period
3.55 days
Discovered
1610, Galileo
Orbits
Jupiter
Did you know
- NASA's Europa Clipper launched in 2024 to study it.
- Its surface is one of the smoothest in the solar system.
- Possible water plumes have been detected by Hubble.
