Page 14 October 6, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Looking Up Hubble Telescope Spots Possible Water Plumes Erupting on Jupiter’s Moon Europa By Bob Eklund Astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have imaged what may be water vapor plumes erupting off the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa. This finding bolsters other Hubble observations suggesting the icy moon erupts with high-altitude water vapor plumes. The observation increases the possibility that missions to Europa may be able to sample Europa’s ocean without having to drill through miles of ice. “Europa’s ocean is considered to be one of the most promising places that could potentially harbor life in the solar system,” said Geoff Yoder, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C. “These plumes, if they do indeed exist, may provide another way to sample Europa’s subsurface.” The plumes are estimated to rise about 125 miles before, presumably, raining material back down onto Europa’s surface. Europa has a huge global ocean containing twice as much water as Earth’s oceans, but it is protected by a layer of extremely cold and hard ice of unknown thickness. The plumes provide a tantalizing opportunity to gather samples originating from under the surface without having to land or drill through the ice. The team, led by William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, observed these fingerlike projections while viewing Europa’s edge as it passed in front of Jupiter. The original goal of the team’s observing proposal was to determine whether Europa has a thin, extended atmosphere, or exosphere. Using the same observing method that detects atmospheres around planets orbiting other stars, the team also realized if there was water vapor venting from Europa’s surface, this observation would be an excellent way to see it. “The atmosphere of an extrasolar planet blocks some of the starlight that is behind it,” Sparks explained. “If there is a thin atmosphere around Europa, it has the potential to block some of the light of Jupiter, and we could see it as a silhouette. And so we were looking for absorption features around the limb of Europa as it transited the smooth face of Jupiter.” In 10 separate occurrences spanning 15 months, the team observed Europa passing in front of Jupiter. They saw what could be plumes erupting on three of these occasions. This work provides supporting evidence for water plumes on Europa. In 2012, a team led by Lorenz Roth of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, detected evidence of water vapor erupting from the frigid south polar region of Europa and reaching more than 100 miles into space. Although both teams used Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument, each used a totally independent method to arrive at the same conclusion. “When we calculate in a completely different way the amount of material that would be needed to create these absorption features, it’s pretty similar to what Roth and his team found,” Sparks said. “The estimates for the mass are similar, the estimates for the height of the plumes are similar. The latitude of two of the plume candidates we see corresponds to their earlier work.” If confirmed, Europa would be the second moon in the solar system known to have water vapor plumes. In 2005, NASA’s Cassini orbiter detected jets of water vapor and dust spewing off the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. • This composite image shows suspected plumes of water vapor erupting at the 7 o’clock position off the limb of Jupiter’s moon Europa. The plumes, photographed by NASA’s Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, were seen in silhouette as the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Photo courtesy of NASA/ESA/W. Sparks (STScI)/USGS Astrogeology Science Center these common plants off limits to kids: Rhododendron, Lily of the Valley, Hydrangea, Poinsettia, Purple Nightshade, Mountain Laurel, Mistletoe and Water Hemlock. If you suspect your child has ingested any type of garden plant/flower, seek medical attention right away. 3. Keep vehicles locked and keys out of reach of children. According to WebMD, even on a day when it’s only 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can increase by 30 to 40 degrees in an hour, and 70 percent of this increase occurs the first 30 minutes. Teach children that vehicles aren’t safe places to play. 4. Prevent falling accidents from windows. As the summer heat begins to cool, it’s time to let fresh that air in the house. To prevent potential falling accidents, open windows from the top instead of from the bottom. Window guards and stoppers are strongly suggested for homes with children under the age of 11. Be sure all are firmly secured and installed properly. 5. Anchor it! Furniture and TV tip-overs are also one of the top hidden hazards in the home, according to the CPSC, which has launched a new safety campaign aimed at reducing the number of deaths and injuries from tipping furniture and TVs. 6. Check before you play. Playgrounds with slides, swings, and other play items of any material that sit in sunlight can cause burns for children - even when it’s not that hot outside. Always check the equipment first and don’t let children run around barefoot. If your child does experience a burn, seek medical help immediately. For more information on window cord safety and the Best for Kids program, visit windowcoverings.org or follow WCSC on Facebook and Twitter. • Seniors 5 Tips To Protect Your Children From Hidden Dangers Around The Home (BPT) - Even in the most safety-minded homes, the most serious hazards for children can be hiding in plain sight. Know which unexpected items can be risky, and what to do to prevent an accident. Many parents feel they know the top child proofing items to check off to keep kids safe - cover electrical outlets, lock kitchen cabinets and secure baby gates on stairs. However, there are other potential serious child safety hazards in and outside the home that sometimes can be overlooked, including windows coverings. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), corded window coverings are one of the top five hidden hazards in American homes, with infants and young children accidentally becoming entangled in window covering cords. CPSC, the window covering industry and consumer safety advocates all agree that only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords should be used in homes with young children. The Best for Kids certification program launched last year by the window covering industry makes it easy for parents and caregivers to easily identify which window covering products are best suited for homes with young children. The Window Covering Safety Council urges parents and caregivers to follow these six simple tips to help protect children from potentially hidden hazards around the home. 1. Install only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords in homes with young children. Replace window blinds, corded shades and draperies with products that are cordless or have inaccessible cords, such as those marked with the Best for Kids label certification which enables you to easily identify products best suited for young children. 2. Know your plants and which are dangerous if ingested. Make sure to keep “Europa has a huge global ocean containing twice as much water as Earth’s oceans, but it is protected by a layer of extremely cold and hard ice of unknown thickness.”
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