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Credit & Copyright: PIRL
(Univ. of Arizona),
Planetary
Geosciences Group (Brown Univ.),
Galileo Project,
NASA
Explanation:
This bright white swath cutting across the surface of icy Jovian moon
Europa
is known as
Agenor Linea.
In all about 1000 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, only a section is
pictured here as part of a combined
color and black and white image based on data from the Galileo spacecraft.
Most linear features
on Europa
are dark in color but Agenor Linea
is uniquely bright for unknown reasons.
Also unknown is the origin of the reddish material along the sides.
While these and other
details of
Europa's surface formations remain
mysterious, the general results of Galileo's exploration
of Europa have supported the idea that an ocean of liquid water lies
beneath the cracked and
frozen crust.
An extraterrestrial
liquid
ocean holds out the tantalizing
possibility
of life.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Europa - ice - ocean - Jupiter's Moons
Publications with words: Europa - ice - ocean - Jupiter's Moons
See also: