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AsteriaStar

Moon

Europa

Type
Moon
Diameter
3,122 km

Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Image processing: Brian Swift CC BY 3.0 · NASA media (public domain)

Overview

Scientific overview

Europa is a moon orbiting Jupiter.

Physical characteristics

Mass
0.048 ×10²⁴ kg
Diameter
3,122 km
Radius
1,560.8 km
Density
3.013 g/cm³
Surface gravity
1.31 m/s² · derived
Escape velocity
2.0 km/s · derived
Albedo
0.67
Magnitude
5.29

Derived values

Computed from source-backed inputs via standard formulae — not observations. Every input and constant is traced below.

  • Escape velocity2.0 km/sderived
    Formula & inputs

    Formula: v = √(2GM / r) (v1.0.0, impl v1.0.0)

    Inputs:

    • mass1e24Kg = 0.04799 ×10²⁴ kg · NASA
    • radiusKm = 1560.8 km · NASA

    Assumptions: G = 6.674e-11 m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² (CODATA 2018)

    Limitations: Assumes a spherical, non-rotating body.; Inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty, so none is propagated.

    Uncertainty: not propagated (inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty)

    Computed as of 2026-06-29.

  • Surface gravity1.31 m/s²derived
    Formula & inputs

    Formula: g = GM / r² (v1.0.0, impl v1.0.0)

    Inputs:

    • mass1e24Kg = 0.04799 ×10²⁴ kg · NASA
    • radiusKm = 1560.8 km · NASA

    Assumptions: G = 6.674e-11 m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² (CODATA 2018)

    Limitations: Assumes a spherical, non-rotating body.; Inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty, so none is propagated.

    Uncertainty: not propagated (inputs carry no catalogued uncertainty)

    Computed as of 2026-06-29.

Scale

Compared to Earth

Earth
Europa

Europa is 4.1× smaller than Earth

3,122 km across · Earth is 12,742 km

Gallery

Simulated View of Thermal Emissions from Europa

This image is a simulation of how NASA's Europa Clipper will understand which areas of the Jovian moon Europa are warm and active by studying the moon's thermal emissions.

2024

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/SwRI · NASA media (public domain)

Source archive ↗

Observation

How this was captured

Source
NASA
Observation date
2022-12-14

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

  • NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics

    Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.