Thread by @IcyMoonsKevin

When did Jupiter's moon, #Europa, form its metallic core? Maybe recently... or not at all😮

📢New in @ScienceAdvances, a story about Europa's interior structure and slow (but eventful) evolution

Link:shorturl.at/fBH02

Summary thread w/ visuals ↓ #ScienceAdvancesResearch

A small moon like Europa may have formed as a cold mixture of hydrated rock and metal. While it is possible to accrete ice, there may already be enough hydrogen and oxygen in the rock to form the ocean!

Within the first 0.5–1.5 Gyr, Europa slowly warmed up until the onset of ocean formation. Hydrated rocks may release supercritical fluid, which would migrate to the moon's surface.

Temperatures continue to rise. After billions of years, rock and metal may melt, which could trigger metallic core formation. The sinking of dense iron alloys would release a heat pulse that rapidly warms the interior. However, it's unclear whether Europa could get this hot.

Today, the seafloor may be cool, hydrated, and experience limited (if any) volcanism. This is important for habitability, because life as we know it requires heat and chemical energy, which could come from rock-water reactions and volcanism.

Our results are most sensitive to Europa's interior composition and the distribution of tidal heating, which are both not well understood. In our paper, we discuss other models for Europa as well.

I'm really excited about the #EuropaClipper mission. NASA plans on launching a spacecraft in October 2024, which would arrive at Europa in April 2029. This mission, along with our study, will refine our understanding of Europa's interior structure, evolution, and habitability.

I want to thank my co-authors and mentors @CarverBierson and @GeoJGO for holding me to a high standard and teaching me how to do great science. Our work is funded by @NASA #FINESST. This is my first publication, and I hope to continue learning about our solar system!