Possible Detection of Volcanic Activity on Europa: Analysis of An Optical Transient Event

Europa's low crater density suggests that geological activity has continued to the present epoch, leading to the possibility that current resurfacing events might be detectable. CCD observations were carried out with a ST-6 camera at the 0.5 m Mons Cassegrain telescope (Izaña Observatory, Tenerife,Canary Islands, Spain) during the night between 2–3 October 1999. Our images show a transient bright feature on the Galilean satellite. These images are analyzed here with the purpose of understanding the nature of the transient phenomena as it could be the result of explosive venting on the surface of the Jovian satellite. By comparison, we use NASA Infrared Telescope Facility images of two Io hot spots taken on12 October 1990. Although we mainly restrict our discussion on apossible eruptive nature of the observed spots, we also consider other alternative mechanisms able to produce bright events. In particular, an interaction between charged material being ejected from Europa and the Jovian magnetosphere cannot be entirely ruled out. If confirmed, this result would lend support for the existence of active resurfacing in Europa.