Pwyll: Icy Crater of Europa
Explanation:
The impact crater Pwyll (
a name
from
Celtic Mythology) is thought to
represent one of the youngest features on
the surface of
Jupiter's moon Europa.
A combination of color and high resolution black and white data from
NASA's Galileo spacecraft was used to produce
this view looking down on the crater
with the sun illuminating the scene from the right.
Pwyll's visible dark central region is about 24 miles in diameter,
while brilliant white rays of debris blasted from
the impact site extend
outward for hundreds of miles.
The white debris or ejecta clearly overlays everything else on the
surface - indicating that this formation is younger than all
surrounding features.
Interestingly, the bright white color
suggests a composition of fresh water ice particles.
Does water in liquid form exist
below
Europa's icy surface?
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.
