Is there a planet called Europa?
Europa is the smallest of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, and the sixth closest natural satellite to the planet.
Is Europa a dwarf planet?
Europa is one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, along with Io, Ganymede and Callisto. Europa is the smallest of the four but it is one of the more intriguing satellites. The surface of Europa is frozen, covered with a layer of ice, but scientists think there is an ocean beneath the surface.
How does Europa affect Jupiter?
As it nears to Jupiter, Jupiter’s gravitational attraction increases, causing Europa to elongate towards and away from it. As Europa moves away from Jupiter, the gravitational force decreases, causing Europa to relax back into a more spherical shape and creating tides in its ocean.
How is Europa’s orbit different from that of Jupiter?
Overview. Because Europa’s orbit is elliptical (slightly stretched out from circular), its distance from Jupiter varies, and the moon’s near side feels Jupiter’s gravity more strongly than its far side. The magnitude of this difference changes as Europa orbits, creating tides that stretch and relax the moon’s surface.
Is it true that Europa is in our Solar System?
The notion pulled Europa out of obscurity and into the limelight where it has remained, stoking the imaginations of people both within and outside the science community who fantasize about humans discovering life beyond Earth. That fantasy, however, may be grounded in reality.
Are there any spacecraft that have been to Europa?
Several spacecraft have done flybys of Europa (including Pioneers 10 and 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2 in the 1970s). The Galileo spacecraft did a long-term mission at Jupiter and its moons between 1995 and 2003.
Do you think all the planets revolve around the Sun?
It isn’t just Jupiter, although Jupiter is a big part, the center of mass also changes depending on the planets in the system. So yes, the Earth does not revolve directly around the sun. Planets revolve around the object with the most mass in the solar system. That being our sun.