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Europa,
a Continuing Story of Discovery

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

• 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
• Europa/Vostok Intiative

  Possible Future Missions:

• Europa Orbiter Mission
• Europa Ocean Observer
• Europa Lander
• Icepick: the Europa Ocean Explorer
• Europa Ice Clipper

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

USGS Europa Nomenclature page

The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)