Europa

Europa is one of Jupiter’s largest moons and is the sixth-largest moon in the solar system. It is primarily composed of silicate rock and has a water-ice crust, beneath which it is believed there may be a global subsurface ocean of liquid water. This makes Europa a particularly interesting target for astrobiology, as its potential ocean may harbor conditions suitable for life. Its surface is characterized by a smooth, icy shell with numerous linear features and ridges, suggesting geological activity. Europa was discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei, and it has since been studied extensively by various spacecraft, including the Galileo orbiter and the Hubble Space Telescope. The moon is named after a figure from Greek mythology, Europa, who was a Phoenician princess and lover of Zeus.