Cracks and Ridges on Europa
Explanation:
Which way to the interstate?
What appears to be a caricature of a
complex highway system on Earth
is actually a system of ridges and
cracks on the icy surface of
Jupiter's moon
Europa. The distance between parallel ridges in the
above photograph is typically about 1 kilometer.
The complexity of the
cracks and ridges
tell a story of
Europa's past
that is mostly undecipherable -- planetary geologists
try to understand just the general origin of
the overall features.
One noteworthy feature is the overall white sheen,
possibly indicating the presence of frost.
Another is the dark centers between parallel ridges,
which might indicate that dirty water from an
underground ocean
recently welled up in the cracks and froze.
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.
