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Hubble Discovers Water Plumes Over Europa

Posted by samzenpus on from the thar-she-blows dept.

astroengine writes "Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have found plumes of water vapor shooting off the southern pole of Europa, an ice-covered moon of Jupiter that is believed to have an underground ocean. If confirmed — so far the plumes have only been spotted once — the finding could have implications for the moon's suitability for life and help explain why its surface appears relatively young and crater-free. "The plumes are incredibly exciting, if they are there. They're bringing up material from in the ocean, perhaps there's organic material that will be laying on the surface of the south pole. Those are the things that we want to know about," James Green, head of NASA's planetary science programs, told reporters at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco on Thursday."

20 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Presuming these plumes are not one off events, couldn't we send an orbiter there to sample the plumes to at least get some idea of the chemistry of Europa's ocean, if not possibly outright detect signs of life?

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    1. Re:Hmmm by noh8rz10 · · Score: 2

      If there's organic matter on the surface, maybe it's a source of foods?i would be concerned that it would be too high in carbs.

    2. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sorry!

      All these worlds
      are yours except
      Europa
      Attempt No
      Landing there

    3. Re:Hmmm by erice · · Score: 4, Informative

      Presuming these plumes are not one off events, couldn't we send an orbiter there to sample the plumes to at least get some idea of the chemistry of Europa's ocean, if not possibly outright detect signs of life?

      Yes, and according to the BBC article NASA researchers hope to do just that. However, Europa Clipper is expensive and long way off. They are hoping that a European probe due to launch in 2022 (like that is close) will do the job even though is not intended to go over the poles, which is where the plumes were seen.

    4. Re:Hmmm by green+is+the+enemy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The radiation environment around Europa most likely breaks apart any complex molecules that came from the ocean. The best possibility is a lander that would dig into the regolith. Unfortunately, looks like the Juno mission will not help even with locating landing spots on Europa. Its camera is too wide-angle.

  2. In europa, by TechnoCore · · Score: 2

    No rain today, just snow

    1. Re:In europa, by alphonse23 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not just snow, giant chunks of ice crashing into the ground. "Aww, snow -- how pretty -- (then) -- KABOOOM!"

  3. Meanwhile, SETI has decoded a message . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . "Have Leak! Send Plumber!" . . .

    . . . believed to have originated from Europa . . .

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    1. Re:Meanwhile, SETI has decoded a message . . . by Guppy06 · · Score: 3, Funny

      The only space-faring plumbers we have spend most of their time saving princesses.

  4. old news by Charliemopps · · Score: 3, Informative

    We've known about the plumes for a long time:
    http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC99/pdf/1603.pdf

    This is just direct confirmation of what we already knew about.
    It's pretty clear Europa probably has some form of life under the ice. The odds are definitely in it's favor. It's just a matter of confirming it, just like these plumes. The really exciting bit will be if it's multicellular or even fish like animals. I really hope I live long enough to see it.

    1. Re:old news by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Funny

      Perhaps they've evolved a better congressman.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:old news by amaurea · · Score: 4, Insightful

      We've known about the plumes for a long time:
      http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC99/pdf/1603.pdf

      This is just direct confirmation of what we already knew about.

      That paper talks about the possility that one might observe plumes, as one of several possible explanations for the terrain features seen on Europa. Actually observing such plumes is something else entirely.

      It's pretty clear Europa probably has some form of life under the ice. The odds are definitely in it's favor. It's just a matter of confirming it, just like these plumes. The really exciting bit will be if it's multicellular or even fish like animals. I really hope I live long enough to see it.

      How is that clear? On what do you base the claim that the odds are so good that "it's just a matter of confirming it"? I don't think you would find anybody working in that field willing to make that bold claims.

    3. Re:old news by icebike · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's pretty clear Europa probably has some form of life under the ice. The odds are definitely in it's favor.

      I don't see how you can get from plumes to life so glibly.
      Plumes can be strictly physical effects of tidal activity.

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      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    4. Re:old news by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Informative

      Better article (with sort of a picture of the phenomenon)

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      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    5. Re:old news by Wireless+Joe · · Score: 2

      Isn't it obvious? That's not tidal activity, those plumes are breaching moon-whales.

    6. Re:old news by cusco · · Score: 2

      I don't think they could have evolved a worse one.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
  5. Another Hubble story by bob_super · · Score: 2

    Can you remind me why a 12th aircraft carrier is a better use of taxpayer money than a bunch of space telescopes?

    1. Re:Another Hubble story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      Can you remind me why a 12th aircraft carrier is a better use of taxpayer money than a bunch of space telescopes?

      I was going to post a snide comment about congresscritters getting a higher ROI with aircraft. Turns out it isn't so.

      Lockheed (LMT) built Hubble, up 182% in the last decade
      Northrop Grumman (NOC) owns the company that builds aircraft carriers, up 131% in the same time period

      Ignoring other factors, it really is a better investment to fund more space telescopes.

    2. Re:Another Hubble story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Lockheed Martin also secured a contract for the F-35 and F-22 which is going to be worth over 2 trillion dollars.

      I don't think Hubble had much to do with it.

  6. Re:We could by Froboz23 · · Score: 2

    You have been drinking your whiskey from Kentucky!

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