Galilean Moons’ Water Differences Set During Formation

Diagram depicting the formation materials for the Galilean moons, with Io receiving anhydrous (non-water) rocks, Europa receiving hydrous (water-rich) rocks, while Ganymede and Callisto primarily received ices. (Credit: Southwest Research Institute)

How long did it take to establish the water content within Jupiter’s Galilean moons, Io and Europa? This is what a recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal hopes to address as a team of scientists from the United States and France investigated the intricate processes responsible for the formation and evolution of Io and Europa. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of two of the most unique moons in the solar system, as Io and Europa are known as the most volcanically active body in the solar system and an ocean world estimated to contain twice the volume of Earth’s oceans, respectively.

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