Table of Contents

• Overview of Europa Facts
• Latest Europa Science Findings
• Europa Images
• Missions Exploring Europa
• Educational Activities and Resources
• The Mythology of Jupiter and Its Satellites
• The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites
• Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) about Europa
• Resources
• Links to Related Sites

Overview of Europa Facts

Europa Quick-Look Statistics

 
Discovery:                             Jan 7, 1610 by Galileo Galilei
Diameter (km):                         3,138           
Mass (kg):                             4.8e22 kg 
Mass (Earth = 1)                       0.0083021
Surface Gravity (Earth = 1):           0.135 
Mean Distance from Jupiter (km):       670,900 
Mean Distance From Jupiter (Rj):       9.5 
Mean Distance from Sun (AU):           5.203
Orbital period (days):                 3.551181 
Rotational period  (days):             3.551181 
Density (gm/cm³)                       3.01 
Orbit Eccentricity:                    0.009
Orbit Inclination (degrees):           0.470
Orbit Speed (km/sec):                  13.74
Escape velocity (km/sec):              2.02 
Visual Albedo:                         0.64
Surface Composition:                   Water Ice

A Summary of Facts about Europa

Latest Europa Science Findings General / Overview:

• Closest Europa Flyby Marks Start of Galileo Mission "Part II" (December 16, 1997).
• Possible Internal Structures of the Galilean Satellites (November 18, 1997).
• Galileo Returns New Insights Into Callisto and Europa (May 23, 1997)

Possible Ocean:

• Cracks Best Evidence Yet for Europan Ocean. (September 16, 1999)
• Detailed Images From Europa Point To Slush Below Surface. (March 2, 1998)
• Galileo Returns New Insights Into Callisto and Europa (May 23, 1997)
• New Galileo Images Hint At Wet And Wild History For Europa (April 9, 1997)
• Ice Volcanoes Reshape Europa's Chaotic Surface (January 17, 1997)
• Jupiter's Europa Harbors Possilbe "Warm Ice" or Liquid Water (August 13, 1996)

Atmosphere:

• Galileo Finds Europa Has An Atmosphere (July 18, 1997)
• Hubble Finds Oxygen Atmosphere on Europa (February 23, 1995).

Frequently Asked Questions about Europa

Europa Images

• Galileo Images
  • Global Clickable Maps (Organized by location)
  • Image Tables Organized by Features and Orbit
• Bulletin Boards and Stickers
• Europa Encounter Animation from February 20, 1997

  Look here for information on how to setup your browser for animations.

  • MPEG - 3.5 MB, 320x200 resolution
  • Quicktime - 10.4 MB, 320x200 resolution
• Images from Other missions
  • Formation of Cycloidal Features on Europa
  • Voyager 1 & 2 Images
  • Hubble Space Telescope Images
  • Pioneer 10 Images
  • Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 & Europa
• Images And Information On The Jovian System
• Europa Flyby Animations (computer generated)

  Look here for information on how to setup your browser for animations.

  • Europa 4 Flyby (December 19, 1996).
  • Europa 6 Flyby (February 20, 1997).
  • Europa 6 - Zoom Into Europa (April 9, 1997).
  • Europa 11 Flyby (November 6, 1997).
  • Europa 12 Flyby (December 16, 1997).
  • Europa 13 Flyby (February 10, 1998).
  • Europa 14 Flyby (March 29, 1998).
  • Europa 15 Flyby (May 31, 1998).
  • Europa 16 Flyby (July 21, 1998).
  • Europa 17 Flyby (September 26, 1998).
  • Europa 18 Flyby (November 22, 1998).
  • Europa 19 Flyby (February 1, 1999).
• Europa Doppler Plots
  • Europa 4 Flyby (December 19, 1996).
  • Europa 6 Flyby (February 20, 1997).
  • Europa 11 Flyby (November 6, 1997).
  • Europa 12 Flyby (December 16, 1997).
  • Europa 13 Flyby (February 10, 1998).
  • Europa 14 Flyby (March 29, 1998).
  • Europa 15 Flyby (May 31, 1998).
  • Europa 16 Flyby (July 21, 1998).
  • Europa 18 Flyby (November 22, 1998).

• Galileo Europa Mission (GEM): Dec. 1997 - Dec. 1999
• Galileo Nominal Mission: Dec. 1995 - Dec. 1997

  Possible Future Missions:

• Europa Orbiter Mission
• Icepick: the Europa Ocean Explorer

Educational Activities and Resources

• Activities:
  • A Closer Look at Europa (Geological processes on Europa and Earth)
  • Looking for Young Features on Europa (study recent Galileo images using free image processing software)
  • Design a Spacecraft to Test for Life on Europa
  • Planets and Satellites (Overview of our solar system and the Jovian system)
  • Planetary Surfaces
  • More activities
• Galileo K-12 Educator's Resources
• Bulletin Boards and Stickers
• The Jovian system as viewed from Earth (Java Applet)

The Mythology of Jupiter and it's Satellites

The planets and moons in our solar system are all named for characters in Greek and Roman mythology. Here are some stories and artwork about the namesakes of Jupiter and the Galilean satellites.

USGS Europa Nomenclature page

The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites

Find out how Galileo Galilei discovered the moons around Jupiter.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)

• Europa specific FAQ's
• General Galileo FAQ's
• Online From Jupiter FAQ (April 6, 1997)

Resources

• Ask Galileo A Question
• Definitions and Acronyms

• Subscribe to the Galileo Mailing List!

Links to Related Sites

• Galileo homepage at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Galileo Europa Mission webpage at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Galileo homepage at the DLR in Germany
• Galileo Probe
  • Probe Team at Ames Research Center
• Galileo Orbiter
  • DDS - Dust Detector
  • EPD - Energetic Particles Detector Team
  • HIC - Heavy Ion Counter
  • MAG - Galileo Magnetometer Team
  • NIMS - Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer
  • PLS - Galileo Plasma Particle Investigation
  • PWS - University of Iowa Space Plasma Wave Group
  • SSI - Solid State Imaging Team
  • UVS/EUV - Ultraviolet Spectrometer/Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment
• Space Science Background Information
  • NASA's Spacelink
  • The Nine Planets
  • Views of the Solar System
  • NASA's Planetary Photojournal