Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: Looking for an interplanetary vacation destination? Consider visiting Europa, one of the Solar System's most tantalizing moons. Heat from tidal flexing as the ice covered moon orbits our ruling gas giant Jupiter keeps Europa's salty subsurface ocean liquid all year round. That means even in the absence of sunlight Europa has energy that could support simple life forms. Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to make reservations at restaurants on Europa, where you might enjoy a dish of the local extreme shrimp. Of course, you can always choose another destination from Visions of the Future.