When the Sun becomes a red giant in about 12 billion years, its heat will push the habitable zone far beyond Earth, possibly reaching Jupiter and its icy moon, Europa. Earth will likely be scorched, but Europa may briefly become a place where life could exist.
As reported by Universe Today’s Carolyn Collins Petersen, scientists believe the Sun’s warmth could cause Europa’s icy surface to sublimate, forming a thin water vapour atmosphere. Jupiter’s reflective clouds may also brighten, adding heat. These changes could make Europa marginally habitable for hundreds of thousands of years.
While it’s unclear if life could start or survive, this scenario gives astronomers a window into the fate of similar exoplanets orbiting stars like the Sun.
With over 90% of known exoplanets circling future white dwarfs, studying Europa helps researchers understand what might happen to distant worlds as their stars die.
