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Voyager 1 Image of Europa

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JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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PHOTO CAPTION
Voyager 1-60
P-21189
March 3, 1979

This photo of Europa, brightest of Jupiter's four Galilean satellites, was taken by Voyager 1 March 2, 1979, from a distance of 1.75 million miles (2.87 million kilometers). In this image a bizarre collection of dark streaks are becoming visible. They are about 30 miles (50 kilometers) wide, and typically 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) to 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers) long. They show a variety of forms: straight, arcuate, linear and branching. Scientists believe they may represent some tectonic system of large fractures or faults. At this resolution it is still too early to tell. In July Voyager 2 will see, at much closer range, the same hemisphere of Europa. JPL manages and controls the Voyager project for NASA's Office of Space Science.