10 Interesting Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon


One of the Galilean moons will be explained on Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon. The other Galilean moons are lo, ganymede, and callisto. Europe is the smallest Galilean moons, but the sixth largest moons in the solar system. Besides, it also the sixth closest moon of Jupiter. The other facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon will be explained below.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 1: The name of Europa

Europe was named after a princess from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of King Tyre and became the first queen of Crete.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 2: The surface

The surface of Europe is a frozen, icy, and smooth. Scientist said that there is an ocean under the surface called as subsurface ocean.

Europe's surface
Europe’s surface

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 3: The Temperature of Europe

The temperature of Europe’s surface at the equator never reaches above minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 160 degrees Celsius. Whereas the temperature never reaches above minus 370 F or minus 220 C at the poles of the moon.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 4: The discovery

Europe moon was found by Galileo Galilei on January 8, 1610. Actually, Simon Marius was the first German astronomer who found it in
December 1609. However, his observations was not published. So, Galileo is the one who credited with the discovery. He also did not know that Marius had found it before. That’s why Europe is also known as Galilean moons.

Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 5: The rotation

The rotation of Europa moon needs 3.551 earth days to rotate on its orbit. Whereas the speed is around 30,724 miles or 49.476 kilometres an hour.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 6: The Size

The diameter of Europe is about 1,940 miles or 3,122 kilometers which means it is smaller that Earth’s moon. But, it is larger than Pluto.

Earth's Moon (top left), Europe (bottom left), Earth (right)
Earth’s Moon (top left), Europe (bottom left), Earth (right)

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 7: The Age

The age of Europa is around 4.5 billion years old. It has same age of Jupiter.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 8: Life on Europa

Europe is unique in the solar system due to it has water with a rocky seafloor. As we know that, water, heat, and organic compounds are things which are needed for life. Whereas Europe also has water and heat. It means that Europe could be a place for life. Scientists believe it!

Possibility of Life on Europa
Possibility of Life on Europa

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 9: The similarity between Europe and Earth

We are going to discuss about similarity between Europe and Earth. Their similarity is that they both have liquid water and iron core.

Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon 10: The distance

Approximately, the distance of Europe from the sun is around 485 million miles or 780 million kilometers. Whereas the Europe’s distance from the Jupiter is about 416,900 miles or 670,900 km. It takes three and a half days to orbit Jupiter.

The Europe's distance from the Jupiter
The Europe’s distance from the Jupiter

We have talked Facts about Europa Jupiter’s Moon. Are you interesting to read this article? Do you know other facts about this beautiful moon? Let us know!


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