Galileo Magnetometer Measurements: A Stronger Case for a Subsurface Ocean at Europa
Abstract
On 3 January 2000, the Galileo spacecraft passed close to Europa when it was located far south of Jupiter's magnetic equator in a region where the radial component of the magnetospheric magnetic field points inward toward Jupiter. This pass with a previously unexamined orientation of the external forcing field distinguished between an induced and a permanent magnetic dipole moment model of Europa's internal field. The Galileo magnetometer measured changes in the magnetic field predicted if a current-carrying outer shell, such as a planet-scale liquid ocean, is present beneath the icy surface. The evidence that Europa's field varies temporally strengthens the argument that a liquid ocean exists beneath the present-day surface.
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Europa and Enceladus, moons of Jupiter and Saturn respectively, are thought to have subsurface reservoirs of liquid water.
“Europa and Enceladus, moons of Jupiter and Saturn respectively, are thought to have subsurface reservoirs of liquid water (Kivelson et al., 2000; Collins and Goodman, 2007).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Kivelson et al., 2000
Galileo detected an induced magnetic field in Europa, providing compelling evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath the surface.
“The Galileo mission detected an induced magnetic field in Europa (a moon of Jupiter), providing compelling evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath the surface (Kivelson et al., 2000).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Kivelson et al., 2000
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- Authors
- Kivelson, M. G., Khurana, K. K., Russell, C. T., Volwerk, M., Walker, R. J., & Zimmer, C.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kivelson, Margaret G.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2000-08-25
- Volume
- 289
- Issue
- 5483
- Pages
- 1340-1343
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2087801168
- Cited by
- 724
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 14.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Keywords
- Europa, subsurface ocean, Galileo spacecraft, magnetometer measurements, induced magnetic field, Jovian magnetosphere, planetary magnetic fields, icy satellites
- MeSH terms
- Extraterrestrial Environment, Ice, Magnetics, Water, Jupiter
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