Evidence of water vapor found on Jupiter moon Europa, NASA says

ByCNN
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Evidence of water vapor found on Jupiter moon, NASA says
NASA said it's Hubble space telescope found persistent water vapor over the atmosphere of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.

WASHINGTON -- Scientists said they have found evidence of water in the atmosphere of Jupiter's icy moon "Europa."

NASA said its Hubble space telescope observed the presence of persistent water vapor over a large area of Europa's atmosphere.

Interestingly, the water vapor was only present in one hemisphere. It's unknown why that's the case.

RELATED: NASA Lucy mission launch

Researchers used Hubble's ultraviolet imaging to make the discovery.

NASA said Europa has a very smooth surface and the solid ice crust looks like cracked eggshell.

The interior has a global ocean with more water than found on earth and could possibly harbor life as we know it.