Europa
Europa has a global saltwater ocean beneath its ice crust with more water than all of Earth's oceans. NASA's Europa Clipper mission is set to investigate habitability from 2030.
astronomy.moons
Metrics
Diameter
Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon.
Mass
Orbital Period
Around Jupiter.
Distance to Jupiter
Relations
Like Earth, Europa has liquid water — but under an ice crust.
Explanations
Europa, a Jovian moon with a diameter of 3122 km, harbors a global saltwater ocean beneath its icy crust—containing more water than all of Earth's oceans combined. With a surface temperature of just 102 Kelvin (roughly -171°C), Europa is extremely cold; however, the subsurface ocean could be warmed by tidal forces from Jupiter, potentially making it habitable. NASA's Europa Clipper mission will investigate these habitability conditions starting in 2030.
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Provenance
Status
seed
Review
none
Last Updated
2026-02-17