This picture shows a familiar moon phase on an unfamiliar moon. One of Jupiter's moons, Europa, is shown here in the gibbous phase. Having a diameter of 3,121.6 kilometers, it is the 15th largest body in our solar system. As can be seen in this photograph, the surface of this moon is very chaotic, covered in deep cracks and dark spots along with domes and various raised regions.These strange regions on the surface are thought by scientists to be the result of convective motions taking place in the interior of Europa. The surface of this moon is covered in ice, and has a temperature of about -260 degrees F. Suprisingly, it's atmosphere is composed of mainly oxygen. However, this is a different type of oxygen than the kind we have here on Earth. Galileo spacecraft, which is responsible for this picture, has confirmed that there is an ocean located deep underneath the surface of Europa. It is beleived that this deep ocean may be home to some living organsisms. On Earth, we would call these organisms that might possibly live there extremophiles. Extremophiles are organisms that can thrive under extrememly severe or averse conditions. This mysterious ocean is a place that is hoped to be more thoroughly researched in the future.
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