EUROPA HAS THE SMOOTHEST SURFACE of anybody in the
Solar System,
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| Europa |
with the most common feature being the dark bands on its surface, some of which are 20km/12mi across. These are caused by flexing due to tidal forces, cracking the surface ice and revealing salty water which leaves behind dark stains as it evaporates.
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| Structure of Europa |
Nearly as large as
Luna, Europa features a solid iron core, a rocky mantle, and surface ice layer around 100km/62mi thick.
Tidal stresses heating the moon's core are thought to provide enough warmth to allow a liquid salt water ocean to exist under the ice,
making Europa another target in the search of life.
Other evidence for the sub-surface ocean includes the lack of impact craters, indicating that the body was relatively recently resurfaced, means that there is probably a heat source inside the moon (Europa).
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| Comparison between Earth and Europa |
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