images

Jupiter & Io from Europa's surface - Illustration

by

Walter B. Myers/Novapix

Reference

a-jup99-00032

Date

2009-02-10

A crescent Jupiter hovers near the horizon along with Jupiter's volcanic satellite Io. In the foreground a meandering crevasse cleaves Europa's icy surface, one of thousands that crisscross this moon's exceedingly flat and bright exterior. The surface of Europa is about five times brighter than our own Moon and is so flat that no feature rises more than 3,000 feet.