Scientists Spent 13 Years Bouncing Radar Off Europa. Here’s What They Found

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1. 2d ago

   Long-term Radar Study Reveals Europa Surface Properties

   Astronomers analyzed Jupiter's moon Europa using radio waves from 2011 to 2024. The research used NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar and the NSF Green Bank Telescope. Results were presented at the American Astronomical Society's 248th meeting.

   What's confirmed:

   • Astronomers used NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar and the NSF Green Bank Telescope to study Europa from 2011 to 2024.
   • The research findings were presented at the American Astronomical Society's 248th meeting.
   confidence 100%
2. 4d ago

   13-Year Radar Study Reveals Complex Surface Scattering on Europa

   Astronomers used NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar and the NSF Green Bank Telescope to study Jupiter's moon Europa from 2011 to 2024. The research confirmed that the moon's icy surface scatters radio energy in a strong and complex manner not observed on rocky worlds. These findings provide new insights into the interior of the ocean world.

   What's confirmed:

   • Scientists used NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar and the NSF Green Bank Telescope for the study.
   • The radar campaign operated between 2011 and 2024.
   • Researchers used 3.5-centimeter radio waves to ping Europa.
   • Europa's icy surface scatters radio energy in an unusually strong and complex way not seen on rocky worlds.
   • The study is the most extensive radar research of Europa to date.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Hundreds of thousands of quadrillions of bacteria could have reached a moon of Jupiter from Earth in the last 80 million years.
   • The ice is clean and porous.
   • Radar indicates an unusual brightness in the ice.
   confidence 95%