Gibbous Europa (2009 March 8)

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http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090308.html

I was thinking last night about the recently launched Kepler...

The earth orbits once every 365 days at a distance of 107 solar diameters.

Europa orbits once every 3.55 days at a distance of just 5 Jupiter (polar) diameters.

Hence a distant Kepler observing our solar system would have 21 times better chance
of being in alignment to see Europa transit Jupiter than seeing the Earth transit the Sun...
and it would occur 100 times more often.

I wonder whether a distant (next generation) Kepler could detect the loss
of a bright gibbous Europa (albedo ~ 0.67) ducking behind Jupiter
or the even more likely probability of being eclipsed by Jupiter.

Better still, if Jupiter were 5 times closer to the Sun then a cloudy gibbous
water Europa (albedo ~ 0.36) would be ~10 times brighter still (vis-a-vis the sun).

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Explanation: Evidence and images from the Galileo spacecraft, indicated that liquid oceans might exist below the icy surface. To test speculation that these seas hold life, ESA and NASA have together started preliminary development of the Europa Jupiter System Mission , a spacecraft proposed to better study Europa. If the surface ice is thin enough, a future mission might drop hydrobots to burrow into the oceans and search for life.

http://tinyurl.com/68rqm3

http://www.robotcombat.com/

[orin stepanek]

Wow! Only four dollars a month for Old Glory. Where do you find so much stuff? 8)

Orin

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Wow! Only four dollars a month for Old Glory.
Where do you find so much stuff? 8)

I'm working on commission.
(Besides, they showed it on SNL Sunday last night).

[Case]

ESA and NASA have together started preliminary development of the Europa Jupiter System Mission, a spacecraft proposed to better study Europa.

"All these worlds are yours
except Europa
Attempt no landing there"
-- 2010

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ESA and NASA have together started preliminary development of
the Europa Jupiter System Mission, a spacecraft proposed to better study Europa.

"All these worlds are yours except Europa
Attempt no landing there" -- 2010

I can provide you with Old Glory Insurance with a double indemnity
clause specifically for the HAL 9000 for only five dollars a month!