Review of Unmasking Europa: The Search for Life on Jupiter's Ocean Moon
Authored by Professor Richard Greenberg
This technical, yet easy to read, book is of the astrophysics genre, within the field of planetary exploration. Its author is a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; and was a leader of a Galileo spacecraft imaging team. Professor Greenberg is an expert on Europan tidal motions and discusses its impact on the habitat likely to exist below Europa's icy surface. He brings to the table a timely, honest, and personal perspective into the history of the past 40 years of Europa's research. Also, Greenberg's 25 years as a professor and his interaction with other Galileo space mission scientists is objective and sobering. As he states, "it is not always a pretty picture"; and this professor pulls no punches!
A concise summary of the book's content and a relevant description of the topics is as follows: The ice crust covering Europa is not a solid tens-of-kilometers thick, as some researchers profess. It could be a tens-of-meters thin... and may, in spots, just cover the vast ocean below which is estimated to be twice the combined volume of all of the Earth's vast oceans. Friction from tidal motion keeps the subsurface ocean liquid. The convection and transport of liquid water from the Europan ocean floor to the surface manifests itself in the many surface double ridges, mosaic of Chaos, strike slip motion, dilatational bands, and disruption. Professor Greenberg's clear explanations of these observed features demonstrate how the salty water can melt through to the surface. I found his technical descriptions fascinating! This nice 270-page book contains about 100 clearly described figures, plates, drawings, and a helpful index.
Another noteworthy thread throughout this book is that big-time modern science / academia can morph into a draconian and stifling business culture. The author's use of quotes from Galileo Galilee to introduce some chapters, plus Galileo's famous small notebook sketch of Jupiter and its Four Jovian moons as an icon for chapter subdividers is a nice touch. I picked up on the irony that the first viewer of Europa, a classic astronomy hero, experienced similar frustrations and threats from his own boss, the church. Professor Greenberg notes that, for young scientists, the ideals and satisfaction of scientific inquiry and logical thought are becoming secondary to a culture that demands we stay within the boundary of mainstream science research for funding sake. I teach several sciences and have noticed this trend; and have passed on this sober warning to my own up-and-coming science students. Greenberg's frank perspective on both academics and NASA is bold and refreshing.
To this end, the audience may further appreciate my comments. I speak the truth: The prospects of discovering simple life on Europa could be as stunning as the Darwinian Revolution. Professor Greenberg's warnings that a persistent belief of a thick ice covered Europa would erroneously drive future space missions to concentrate on unnecessary elaborate schemes to access its ocean. Where as, if the ice is cracked at the surface with exposure to direct access to the liquid ocean, Greenberg shows that we should confine our efforts to locating and landing sensors near a promising surface crack where frozen sea water oozes out. Difficult missions to access a sealed off ocean 20 kilometers below are the wrong way to approach Europa. The Reader will surely appreciate the author's understanding. Also, I liked how Professor Greenberg calls for a need to examine / revisit the vast amounts of data already collected. Surely there is valuable data that still needs to be mined.
In conclusion, let me restate the thesis: The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise and understanding. Science researchers can and should profit from a reexamination of the already existing and readily available collected data. The author structures his argument well; and the easy-to-read style of Professor Greenberg is both technical and enjoyable. He has helped me to understand Jupiter's moon Europa better, and I highly recommend this book to my readers.
Edward B. Kaczmarczyk BS, MS
Science Chairman.
Greenville Charter Technical High School.
Greenville, SC.
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The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise.
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
Review of Unmasking Europa: The Search for Life on Jupiter's Ocean MoonAuthored by Professor Richard GreenbergThis technical, yet easy to read, book is of the astrophysics genre, within the field of planetary exploration. Its author is a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; and was a leader of a Galileo spacecraft imaging team. Professor Greenberg is an expert on Europan tidal motions and discusses its impact on the habitat likely to exist below Europa's icy surface. He brings to the table a timely, honest, and personal perspective into the history of the past 40 years of Europa's research. Also, Greenberg's 25 years as a professor and his interaction with other Galileo space mission scientists is objective and sobering. As he states, "it is not always a pretty picture"; and this professor pulls no punches!A concise summary of the book's content and a relevant description of the topics is as follows: The ice crust covering Europa is not a solid tens-of-kilometers thick, as some researchers profess. It could be a tens-of-meters thin... and may, in spots, just cover the vast ocean below which is estimated to be twice the combined volume of all of the Earth's vast oceans. Friction from tidal motion keeps the subsurface ocean liquid. The convection and transport of liquid water from the Europan ocean floor to the surface manifests itself in the many surface double ridges, mosaic of Chaos, strike slip motion, dilatational bands, and disruption. Professor Greenberg's clear explanations of these observed features demonstrate how the salty water can melt through to the surface. I found his technical descriptions fascinating! This nice 270-page book contains about 100 clearly described figures, plates, drawings, and a helpful index.Another noteworthy thread throughout this book is that big-time modern science / academia can morph into a draconian and stifling business culture. The author's use of quotes from Galileo Galilee to introduce some chapters, plus Galileo's famous small notebook sketch of Jupiter and its Four Jovian moons as an icon for chapter subdividers is a nice touch. I picked up on the irony that the first viewer of Europa, a classic astronomy hero, experienced similar frustrations and threats from his own boss, the church. Professor Greenberg notes that, for young scientists, the ideals and satisfaction of scientific inquiry and logical thought are becoming secondary to a culture that demands we stay within the boundary of mainstream science research for funding sake. I teach several sciences and have noticed this trend; and have passed on this sober warning to my own up-and-coming science students. Greenberg's frank perspective on both academics and NASA is bold and refreshing.To this end, the audience may further appreciate my comments. I speak the truth: The prospects of discovering simple life on Europa could be as stunning as the Darwinian Revolution. Professor Greenberg's warnings that a persistent belief of a thick ice covered Europa would erroneously drive future space missions to concentrate on unnecessary elaborate schemes to access its ocean. Where as, if the ice is cracked at the surface with exposure to direct access to the liquid ocean, Greenberg shows that we should confine our efforts to locating and landing sensors near a promising surface crack where frozen sea water oozes out. Difficult missions to access a sealed off ocean 20 kilometers below are the wrong way to approach Europa. The Reader will surely appreciate the author's understanding. Also, I liked how Professor Greenberg calls for a need to examine / revisit the vast amounts of data already collected. Surely there is valuable data that still needs to be mined.In conclusion, let me restate the thesis: The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise and understanding. Science researchers can and should profit from a reexamination of the already existing and readily available collected data. The author structures his argument well; and the easy-to-read style of Professor Greenberg is both technical and enjoyable. He has helped me to understand Jupiter's moon Europa better, and I highly recommend this book to my readers.Edward B. Kaczmarczyk BS, MSScience Chairman.Greenville Charter Technical High School.Greenville, SC.
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017
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The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 30, 2017
The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 30, 2017
Review of Unmasking Europa: The Search for Life on Jupiter's Ocean MoonReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 30, 2017
Authored by Professor Richard Greenberg
This technical, yet easy to read, book is of the astrophysics genre, within the field of planetary exploration. Its author is a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; and was a leader of a Galileo spacecraft imaging team. Professor Greenberg is an expert on Europan tidal motions and discusses its impact on the habitat likely to exist below Europa's icy surface. He brings to the table a timely, honest, and personal perspective into the history of the past 40 years of Europa's research. Also, Greenberg's 25 years as a professor and his interaction with other Galileo space mission scientists is objective and sobering. As he states, "it is not always a pretty picture"; and this professor pulls no punches!
A concise summary of the book's content and a relevant description of the topics is as follows: The ice crust covering Europa is not a solid tens-of-kilometers thick, as some researchers profess. It could be a tens-of-meters thin... and may, in spots, just cover the vast ocean below which is estimated to be twice the combined volume of all of the Earth's vast oceans. Friction from tidal motion keeps the subsurface ocean liquid. The convection and transport of liquid water from the Europan ocean floor to the surface manifests itself in the many surface double ridges, mosaic of Chaos, strike slip motion, dilatational bands, and disruption. Professor Greenberg's clear explanations of these observed features demonstrate how the salty water can melt through to the surface. I found his technical descriptions fascinating! This nice 270-page book contains about 100 clearly described figures, plates, drawings, and a helpful index.
Another noteworthy thread throughout this book is that big-time modern science / academia can morph into a draconian and stifling business culture. The author's use of quotes from Galileo Galilee to introduce some chapters, plus Galileo's famous small notebook sketch of Jupiter and its Four Jovian moons as an icon for chapter subdividers is a nice touch. I picked up on the irony that the first viewer of Europa, a classic astronomy hero, experienced similar frustrations and threats from his own boss, the church. Professor Greenberg notes that, for young scientists, the ideals and satisfaction of scientific inquiry and logical thought are becoming secondary to a culture that demands we stay within the boundary of mainstream science research for funding sake. I teach several sciences and have noticed this trend; and have passed on this sober warning to my own up-and-coming science students. Greenberg's frank perspective on both academics and NASA is bold and refreshing.
To this end, the audience may further appreciate my comments. I speak the truth: The prospects of discovering simple life on Europa could be as stunning as the Darwinian Revolution. Professor Greenberg's warnings that a persistent belief of a thick ice covered Europa would erroneously drive future space missions to concentrate on unnecessary elaborate schemes to access its ocean. Where as, if the ice is cracked at the surface with exposure to direct access to the liquid ocean, Greenberg shows that we should confine our efforts to locating and landing sensors near a promising surface crack where frozen sea water oozes out. Difficult missions to access a sealed off ocean 20 kilometers below are the wrong way to approach Europa. The Reader will surely appreciate the author's understanding. Also, I liked how Professor Greenberg calls for a need to examine / revisit the vast amounts of data already collected. Surely there is valuable data that still needs to be mined.
In conclusion, let me restate the thesis: The ice on Europa is thin - not fortress thick. Future space missions should profit from Greenberg's expertise and understanding. Science researchers can and should profit from a reexamination of the already existing and readily available collected data. The author structures his argument well; and the easy-to-read style of Professor Greenberg is both technical and enjoyable. He has helped me to understand Jupiter's moon Europa better, and I highly recommend this book to my readers.
Edward B. Kaczmarczyk BS, MS
Science Chairman.
Greenville Charter Technical High School.
Greenville, SC.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2009
Top reviews from other countries
Jens
Man lernt viel über Europa und über den Wissenschaftsbetrieb
Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on March 30, 2013
