Space Fountains

  • Released Thursday, October 13, 2016
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Are plumes of water erupting from Jupiter’s moon Europa?

Are plumes of water erupting from Jupiter’s moon Europa?

Europa is one of Jupiter’s largest moons and is covered in a layer of ice that’s miles thick. Beneath this frozen shell lies a hidden ocean thought to contain more water than found on Earth. But there’s more to this moon than what’s going on below the surface. In 2012, scientists using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope first observed what appear to be towering columns of water vapor rising from Europa's icy exterior. Now, recent images taken by Hubble provide further evidence of their existence. On three separate occasions in 2014, Hubble spotted what could be 125-mile-high plumes of water vapor gushing from the Jovian moon. Future observations by Hubble and other NASA missions may provide clues as to how often the plumes occur and why they erupt. Watch the video to learn more.

Explore how researchers used Hubble to search for plumes on Europa in this video.

Possible water vapor plumes are circled in these Hubble images of Europa from 2014 (left) and 2012 (right).

Possible water vapor plumes are circled in these Hubble images of Europa from 2014 (left) and 2012 (right).

Beneath Europa's icy exterior is a subsurface ocean that scientists think is the source of water for the plumes.

Beneath Europa's icy exterior is a subsurface ocean that scientists think is the source of water for the plumes.

The plumes are thought to emerge from vents in Europa's surface. This image provides a close look at the moon's highly fractured terrain.

The plumes are thought to emerge from vents in Europa's surface. This image provides a close look at the moon's highly fractured terrain.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA/ESA/STScI/G. Bacon
2014 Hubble image courtesy of NASA/ESA/W. Sparks
2012 Hubble image courtesy of NASA/ESA/L. Roth
Europa interior image courtesy of NASA/JPL
Europa surface image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute

This page was originally published on Thursday, October 13, 2016.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:48 PM EDT.