HUGE GEYSER ERUPTS IN JUPITER'S MOON EUROPA

 
Could there be life on Europa? Hubble spots 100-mile high jets of water shooting from the surface of Jupiter's icy moon.
 

Scientists have detected two vapour jets appearing for up to seven hours

This proves that water from Europa's ocean can easily reach the surface

Experts believe the moon's ocean may have conditions that can support life

 
Like 'Old Faithful', the famous volcanic geyser in Yellowstone National Park, U.S., the plumes appear to erupt at regular intervals.
 
But while Old Faithful manages around 100 feet, Europa's vapour fountains are thought to reach heights of 124 miles - around 20 times higher than the peak of Mount Everest.
 
Similar plumes have previously been seen on one of Saturn's moons, Enceladus.
 
FACTS ABOUT JUPITER'S MOON EUROPA
 
Jupiter's icy moon Europa is slightly smaller than the Earth's Moon.
 
Europa orbits Jupiter every 3.5 days and is phase locked -- just like Earth's Moon -- so that the same side of Europa faces Jupiter at all times.  However, because Europa orbits in an oval, when it is close to Jupiter the tide is much higher.

It is thought to have an iron core, a rocky mantle and a surface ocean of salty water, like Earth.
Unlike on Earth, however, this ocean is deep enough to cover the whole surface of Europa, and being far from the sun, the ocean surface is globally frozen over.
 
Many experts believe the hidden ocean surrounding Europa, warmed by powerful tidal forces caused by Jupiter's gravity, may have conditions favourable to life

Read more and see illustrations - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2523047/Could-life-Europa-Hubble-spots-100-mile-high-jets-water-shooting-surface-Jupiters-icy-moon.html


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