Water Closer to Europa's Surface Than Previously Thought

Jupiter's frozen moon could have giant lakes just three kilometres beneath its icy shell.

American researchers have discovered the greatest indication yet that there could be liquid water just under the surface of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. Astronomers have long believed that Europa's frozen surface has hidden a giant body of water between 10 and 30 kilometres beneath the ice. And now, a new analysis of images of Europa's surface concludes that warmer water builds up underneath the frozen shell, cracking and melting it. This analysis, which appears in the latest issue of the journal Nature suggests that this phenomenon means liquid water could be as close as three kilometres to the surface. The presence of liquid water would greatly increase the chance of life existing on the moon, especially if it's as close to the surface as the study indicates. European and American probes are to be sent to the moon sometime around 2020.