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Not an atmosphere like we know it, more like a wispy and weakly-bound envelope of outgassed material (probably mostly water vapor). If Earth's moon had volatile
by Udo 10y ago
Not an atmosphere like we know it, more like a wispy and weakly-bound envelope of outgassed material (probably mostly water vapor). If Earth's moon had volatile components on its surface it would have this kind of envelope, too. The term atmosphere may be misleading in this context, because this is not a stable pressurized reservoir of gas, it needs to be replenished constantly.
- philipov 10y agoIf Europa is constantly leaking gas, how long before it runs out of fuel, so to speak?
- Udo 10y agoI don't know what the rate of mass loss is (I doubt anyone knows), but most objects in the solar systems are not static: they gas out but they also accumulate dust particles. Most of the gas giant moons have been emitting gas and particles into space since they formed, with most of that matter eventually falling onto the gas giant itself. My guess is the loss of volatiles is so slow that it would take many billions of years until the composition of the moon changes in an appreciable way.
- lolive 10y agoHoly cow! So the dust in my living room may come from space. Wow, you have changed my sweeping experience forever!!!