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Europa

Europa Moon Gemini Visible Level 3 Medium telescope (6-8") - Timing dependent
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 5.3
Angular Size 1 arcmin
Type: Moon
Distance: 0.004 AU
Orbital Period: 3.5 days
Diameter: 1,561 km
Atmosphere: Thin oxygen
Features: Ice crust, lines
Icy surface; possible subsurface ocean.

Position & Identifiers

RA 07h 05m 53.4s
Dec +22° 56' 38.9"
Constellation Gemini
Catalog Europa
Europa — NASA/JPL
Image: NASA/JPL · PIA19048

Physical Properties

Diameter 1,561 km (0.12× Earth)
Mass 4.80e22 kg
Albedo 0.68 (68% reflected)
Temperature -220°C to -160°C
Rotation 3.5 days
Atmosphere Thin oxygen
Surface Ice crust, lines
Angular Size 0.4″ (current)

Orbital Properties

Semi-major Axis 0.0045 AU (671,096 km)
Eccentricity 0.0090
Inclination 0.50°
Orbital Period 3.5 days
Distance 4.985 AU (41.5 light-min)
Elongation 99.3° Good

Observing Tips

Best Months May , June , July
Visibility Binoculars
Where to Look Near Jupiter
Notes Icy surface; possible subsurface ocean.

Parent Body

Orbits Jupiter
Orbital Period 3.52 days
Distance 671,096 km

Discovery

Discovered by Galileo Galilei
Date 1610

Current Ephemeris

4.985
AU from Earth
745.8M
km
0.4″
Angular Size
99°
Elongation

Visibility

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Community Photos (1)

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Feb 28, 2026