Europa's Ice Rafts
Explanation:
The surface of
Jupiter's
moon
Europa
has shifted.
Photographs
released yesterday
of Europa's surface taken by the
spacecraft Galileo
show that the smooth moon's icy surface is sometimes
like a giant scrambled jigsaw puzzle. Pieces of
Europa's
surface,
identifiable above, have rafted to new locations. Also visible
are larger areas that are clearly shifted from their original
alignment. What could cause this surface shuffle? One leading
explanation is water - oceans of water just beneath
Europa's
ice plains. This discovery again fuels speculation that life
might exist far from the comfort of Earth.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
