560 Kilometers Above Europa
Explanation:
This is the closest photograph ever taken of
Europa. Last December, NASA's spacecraft
Galileo swept past the
Jovian moon and took
photographs
which were
released yesterday.
Speculation that life-bearing
oceans exist beneath
Europa's surface
caused NASA to put
Galileo on orbits that approach
Europa.
The
above photograph shows new details on
Europa's surface,
indicating that much of
Europa as strewn with
bumps and hills of ice laced with long fractures.
Dark circular features may be
impact craters.
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.
