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Will NASA announce the discovery of life on Europa next week?
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Julie Send message Joined: 28 Oct 09 Posts: 34053 Credit: 18,883,157 RAC: 18 |
The Telegraph has an article on it, so it doesn't seem like a hoax to me. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/09/21/nasa-to-release-details-of-surprising-activity-on-europa/ “Astronomers will present results from a unique Europa observing campaign that resulted in surprising evidence of activity that may be related to the presence of a subsurface ocean on Europa,†the agency said. NASA has announced a teleconference to be held on Monday afternoon next week, during which it will present new findings from images of Europa. rOZZ Music Pictures |
Michael Watson Send message Joined: 7 Feb 08 Posts: 1384 Credit: 2,098,506 RAC: 5 |
Thought that this might be about the sighting of another icy plume from Europa's interior, but since one of these was seen in 2013, not sure that would amount to 'surprising activity'. Still, since no more of these have been seen since 2013, perhaps it could be considered a surprise, of a sort. An orbiting probe could sample a plume and analyze it for hints of life in Europa's (probable) ocean, provided it could wait out for what look to be infrequent eruptions of this sort. |
Michael Watson Send message Joined: 7 Feb 08 Posts: 1384 Credit: 2,098,506 RAC: 5 |
The news on Europa is out. Icy plumes from its interior still not confirmed, but some new evidence hints at their existence. They waited for Jupiter's light to shine through Europa's near space, watched for changes in the planet's light, which could be caused by plumes. Article on this, linked below: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/europa-surprising-activity-explained-nasa-hubble-plumes-space/ |
William Rothamel Send message Joined: 25 Oct 06 Posts: 3756 Credit: 1,999,735 RAC: 4 |
If we had assets here then we should be able to analyze the plume--which must be frozen I presume. It would be nice to know if the "Ocean" under the solid ice surface is water or methane. Heating of Europa is caused by the massive gravity of Jupiter squeezing and distorting its moon. |
Julie Send message Joined: 28 Oct 09 Posts: 34053 Credit: 18,883,157 RAC: 18 |
If we had assets here then we should be able to analyze the plume--which must be frozen I presume. It would be nice to know if the "Ocean" under the solid ice surface is water or methane. The hypothesis says there is a water ocean beneath the surface. Europa's atmosphere is composed primarily of oxygen so my bet is the hypothesis could also be a fact. rOZZ Music Pictures |
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