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New analysis of archival Hubble data revealed water vapor in
the atmosphere of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Europa's icy, smooth surface scarred by cracks
and fissures averages -275 °F, but researchers suspect a vast ocean lurks beneath that surface.
The Hubble Space Telescope previously detected 60-mile-high
plumes of water vapor erupting like geysers. These new results show water vapor over a larger
area, suggesting a long-term water vapor atmosphere on one of Europa’s hemispheres.
This discovery lays groundwork for missions that will explore
Jupiter’s icy moons. Understanding the formation and evolution of Jupiter and
its moons helps astronomers gain insights into Jupiter-like exoplanets elsewhere in the universe.
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