Europa and stuff pertaining to it

[wickedkitty15]

:confused:

Heya everybody...

Okay, I would be a high school junior with an independent study regarding Europa and the chance of life and yada yada and I was wondering if anyone knew how Galileo found the chemical composition of the ice and the atmosphere and such, like the tools it used, etc. I would also like to know if anyone could send me any sources where I could get information on chemical composition and stuff. JPL has been helpful, but not very, and I need some more definite information.

Thanks!

~Kitty

[PhysBrain]

I assume from your post that you found the Galileo site at JPL, but in case you didn't find it, here's a link to the Galileo Europa Misson page: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/gem/ This page has links to alot of Europa specific information. Since JPL is managing Galileo mission, they should have the most information. However, if they don't have what you are looking for, you may have to look for information put out by scientists who are studying the data from the mission.

If you would like to look into extrateresstrial life in general, NASA Ames Research Center is the lead center in astrobiology research. Their website is at: http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/

SpaceRef also has a pretty extensive repository of astrobiology information at: http://www.astrobiology.com/

Each of these sites also have links to stories and resources about Europa.

Until recently, it was thought that the most promising place to look for life on Europa was in the ocean which is thought to exist under the icy crust. In the May 2002 issue of Discover magazine, they ran a cover story on work going on in the arctic where they've been able to study microscopic lifeforms that live inside the ice at temperatures well below freezing. The finding gives researches hope that life is far more robust than we typically think, which improves the odds that extraterrestrial life may exist in places where we wouldn't have thought to look before.

Good luck with your report. Please let us know what you find out.

[wickedkitty15]

Hehe... Forgive my rather... unintelligent post back there; it was late.

Anyway, I have found a lot of information at the Galileo site at JPL, and some other areas of the NASA website have been helpful, but most of my information has come from press releases that don't seem to be explained in any great depth ANYWHERE.

My project is a fifteen minutes presentation focusing on aspects such as the chemical composition, a brief history, and evidence speaking for and against the chances of finding life. The research and project are a precursor for a science-fiction story I'll be writing based on my findings, which is why it's imperative that I find the most accurate information possible. I have, however, very few concrete facts regarding the chemical composition and the way those measurements are taken. It seems most people are interested in the geology which, while fascinating, is only a small portion of my assignment.

So I still need help finding more information, or at least more sources.

As far as the chemicals I have go, I've found information leading to hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, water ice, and hydrogenous salts. I know, briefly, about the oxygen atmosphere, and a small bit about how the scientists gain their measurements. Bottom line is, though, that I need more. At least more information going deeper in to what I already know. I was considering calling JPL itself, but I don't know if that'd get me anywhere.

~Kitty

[neubjr]

In the past when I was doing reports similar to yours I also ran into many problems regarding the depth of detail I could find through web pages etc... I eventually discovered that contacting the individuals who are actually working on the topic or very close to the research you are looking for helps a great deal. Contacting the individuals tends to get much more in depth than a general web page.

You mentioned talking to JPL about the your project which I think is a great idea. I know Lloyd French was working on a Cryobot to send to Europa to melt through the ice and search for life. I don't know how much specific information he'll be able to tell you about the composition of it all but I think that he can at least point you to the person who does know all that. His email address is Lloyd.C.French@jpl.nasa.gov I think.... I haven't contacted him in a while, but try it and see.

Hope that helps a little bit.

-Joshua Neubert.

[wickedkitty15]

Thanks for all your suggestions. :) Today's the big day- fifteen minutes from now, in fact. All the links you guys gave me were great. I also found a rather invaluable and unexpected resource at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov . In a Europa search, the captions released with the photos explain, for most, at least, the instrument used to take the photo, and a brief explanation on how it was done. So if anyone else needs that sort of information, just do a search for the body of your choice, and voila!

Anyway, I have to calm my breathing... Heh, my heart's racing and I'm getting nervous. I just thought I'd let you know my thanks and appreciation. You know, it's because of this project that I'm seriously considering an active career in astrobiology/physics. =^_^=;; But enough of that. Thanks again!

~Kitty