Could there be life on Europa?
While Jupiter has well over 53 moons there is one that stands out from the rest, Europa. Europa may be the only other moon/planet in out solar system that might contain a vast amount of salty liquid water. Which is why it's of such high interest. Europa has a thick shell covering the moon about 50 to 100 km made completely out of ice. Below that ice however might hold a gold mine of water ten times as deep as that of Earth's oceans which we theorize is one of the main ingredients in the building blocks of life.
The question that follows is how could this moon so far away from the sun and in no way any where near the Goldy Lock Zone in which our Planet Earth is, contain liquid water? The answer is rather fascinating. Europa's orbital distance from Jupiter is 414,000 miles (670,900 km) and takes 3.5 Earth days to orbit Jupiter. Europa is warmed inside and out by the friction from gravitation tidal forces. This is due to the forces exerted on Europa from Jupiter's tugging and pulling on it. It is in a sense stretching and contracting while orbiting. This is causing Europa to heat up far more than it would be from the suns heat alone. Giving way for liquid water to exist beneath the icy surface.
The main ingredients for life to take place all seem to coexist right now on Europa which are liquid water, a source of energy and the right chemicals. So this begs the question if life can flourish? We know from our own planet that even in the harshest conditions life can still exist. Places where light never reaches and temperatures are below 0 degrees Celsius. A Mission to gather more detailed analysis will take place some time near 2020. Until then we are left to wonder what might be swarming the oceans of Europa.
