Hubble Detects Water Plumes

NASA/ESA/W. Sparks (STScI)/USGS Astrogeology Science Center

A suspected water plume erupts from Jupiter's icy moon Europa (visible at the 7 o'clock position at lower left) in this composite image taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on Jan. 26, 2014. NASA unveiled the image on Sept. 26, 2016. Read the full story about Europa's water vapor plumes here.

Water Plumes on Europa in 2014

NASA, ESA, W. Sparks (STScI)

Scientists spotted evidence of water plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa in these three views by the Hubble Space Telescope taken between January and April of 2014. Hubble captured the water plume evidence (background), with a reference Europa image superimposed for reference.

Plumes on Europa: Artist's View

G. Bacon (STScI)

Scientists have long suspected that water plumes exist on Jupiter's moon Europa. The newly released images from the Hubble Space Telescope provide the most convincing evidence to date, and it could signal the presence of a subsurface ocean.

Europa Transit of Jupiter: Illustration

A. Field (STScI)

An artist's concept of Europa transiting across the face of Jupiter. Scientists observed Europa with the Hubble Space Telescope during such transits to spot signs of water plumes on the moon.

Hubble Sees Europa's Transit of Jupiter

NASA, ESA, W. Sparks (STScI)

This Hubble image shows Europa crossing in front of Jupiter while Jupiter rotates behind Europa. This image is taken in near ultraviolet light.

Transit vs. Auroral Observations

NASA, ESA, W. Sparks (left image) L. Roth (right image)

Two images of Europa created in 2012 and 2014 by separate research teams using different observation methods reveal activity at a common location on Europa. The transit image on the left shows dark patches of light absorption in the same spot where researchers later found auroral emission from hydrogen and oxygen, the dissociation products of water.

Europa's Complex Geology

NASA/JPL

Compared to Saturn's moon Enceladus, Europa has a fairly complex geological structure. Beneath its icy crust lies a possible subsurface ocean with a volcanic seafloor.

Enceladus is Simpler

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Enceladus, another moon with a possible subsurface ocean at Saturn, has a much simpler internal geological structure than that of Europa. [Inside Enceladus, Icy Moon of Saturn (Infographic)]

Chaotic Close-Up of Europa

NASA/JPL

A close-up of Europa's surface reveals chaotic terrain with ridges, grooves and plains jumbled together across the icy moon's surface.

Ridges and Tides

NASA/JPL/ASU

Cracks and ridges on the surface of Europa can reveal clues about the moon's geologic history as well as its possible subsurface ocean. These surface features are likely created by tidal forces from Jupiter, which cause the underground ocean to rise and fall similar to tides on Earth.

How Water Reaches Europa's Surface

NASA/JPL-Caltech

This illustration of ridges and fractures on Europa shows one possible way that water could reach Europa’s surface. Chloride salts in the underground ocean bubble up to the moon's frozen surface.