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AST 309L Jovian Moons D.

Krolikowski

The Moons of Jupiter, Europa, and Potential Life


Part A: Jovian moons vs. Rocky planets

Earlier this semester we discussed why Earth is so geologically and


tectonically active — it still has a lot of internal heat (gravitational energy
leftover from formation). Recall that when we discussed other rocky objects
(such as the Moon, Mars, or Mercury) they are not tectonically active
because they are much smaller than the Earth, and thus have less internal
heat.

1. Given this information, would you expect any of the relatively small Jovian
moons to have much geologic activity (internal heat)? Why?

I wouldn’t expect them to have much internal heat because smaller


planets cool faster due to their larger surface area : volume ratio.

2. How did Earth get its atmosphere? Would you expect any Jovian moons to
have an atmosphere?

Earth got its atmosphere from volcanic activity (outgassing), which


required internal heat. Because of their size and temperature, I wouldn’t
expect any Jovian moons to have a strong atmosphere.

3. Earth’s magnetic field, which is crucial to the survival of its atmosphere,


is generated by an internal moving, liquid conductive layer (metallic
core). Mars no longer has a magnetic field, why?

Mars no longer has a magnetic field because it of the rate of cooling.

4. Would you expect any of the Jovian moons to have a magnetic field? Why
or why not? How would this affect a hypothetical moon’s atmosphere?

You need liquid core and plate tectonics for a magnetic field, so I wouldn’t
expect it to have a magnetic field. This would hypothetically make it more
difficult for it to create an atmosphere because of solar winds.
AST 309L Jovian Moons D. Krolikowski

5. After considering only the above, what would you expect the chances are
that the surface of the Jovian moons are habitable? What can you say
about the subsurface?

I would say that after just considering the information above, I would not
expect there to be a great change of a habitable surface of a Jovian Moon.

Part B: Europa’s subsurface ocean — How do we know?

We’re now going to walk through the pieces of evidence


we have that make us almost 100% positive there is an
ocean under the surface of Europa.

1. Look at the picture of one of Europa’s hemispheres to


the right.
How does the surface appear? What does it tell you
about the
age of Europa’s surface?

The surface looks smooth, meaning the surface is relatively young.

6. Look at the close up picture of Europa’s surface


to the right.
What kinds of features do you see? Do they
remind you of
anything on Earth? What could be causing
them?

The streaks resemble canals and ridges on


earth. They may be sitting on what used to be
an area of water.

7. Spectroscopy of Europa’s surface indicates that the red color is likely due
to salt minerals being plentiful on the surface. Where could this salt be
coming from and how could it be replenished on Europa’s surface?
AST 309L Jovian Moons D. Krolikowski

The minerals could be coming from a salty body of water from its
subsurface. It could be replenished by pushing up to the surface where in
the form of the red color as seen in the pictures.

8. When Galileo was orbiting Jupiter, it detected a weak magnetic field


generated by Europa. Given Europa’s structure and internal heat, is the
magnetic field likely to be caused as Earth’s is (liquid metallic core)?
What other material inside Europa could be generating the magnetic
field?

We wouldn’t think that Europa would have a magnetic field caused by


similar circumstances as Earth’s magnetic field was formed. Europa’s
salty subsurface ocean interacts with Jupiter’s incredibly strong magnetic
field to create a weaker magnetic field.

Part C: Life under Europa’s surface

Let’s assume we’re right, and there is indeed an ocean beneath the surface
of Europa. In this case, the first requirement for life — a liquid medium — is
present on Europa! Let’s discuss the other requirements and their
implications.

1. Most of Earth’s life derives its energy in some way (directly through
photosynthesis or indirectly through food) from sunlight, even much of
the life at the bottom of the ocean. Is this a possible source of energy for
life on Europa? What other sources of energy could there be (think Earth
life that doesn’t need the Sun)?

It would be uncommon for sunlight to be a source of energy for life on


Europa because of the sun’s distance and because of the suspected life
on the subsurface, making it difficult for the small amount of sun to reach
it. Instead, life on Europa could gain its energy through chemical
reactions.

9. Possible energy sources for life in Europa’s ocean would provide at least
ten thousand times less energy as photosynthesis on Earth generates.
AST 309L Jovian Moons D. Krolikowski

What does this mean for the kind of life you would expect in Europa’s
oceans? Will it be like life in Earth’s oceans?

Life on Europa would probably be much less complex than life we see in
our oceans. We may find microscopic life or single celled organisms, but I
don’t think life would come in the form of fishes and sharks.

10.Europa’s ocean would also need material with which to form organic
molecules and building blocks of life. If you were to test water from
Europa, what materials would you look for to determine whether or not
the material for life to form exists there?

I would test for Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen, the elements needed for
life.

11.When we discussed life on Mars, we discussed panspermia — life could


have been transported between Earth and Mars, and life on both worlds
would share a common origin. Do you think panspermia would be
possible between Earth/Mars and Europa? If life formed independently on
Europa, what does that tell you about prevalence of life in the universe?

I think it would be highly unlikely for a panspermia to occur between


Earth/Mars and Europa because of the huge distance between the
planets. If life formed independently on Europa, then it could mean that
other planets/moons in our solar system could also form life.

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