Galileo, Figaro - Magnifico
Our Galileo spacecraft captured this natural color mosaic of Europa during its first and fourteenth orbit of the Moon. Europa's surface is ever-changing due to its frozen surface continually breaking up and refreezing, creating the unique patterns of Jupiter's icy Moon. The colors on its surface show how the Moon's striking geological differences of cracks, cliffs, and ridges intertwine with its frozen surface. Areas that appear blue or white contain relatively pure water ice, while reddish-brown regions have a higher concentration of non-ice components. The poles of Europa – on the left and right of the image – are noticeably bluer, possibly because of the size of the ice particles. NASA will be back to study Europa, with the – Europa Clipper mission – set to launch in 2024. The spacecraft will study the Moon in detail and see if it can harbor conditions suitable for life. Image Description: The blackness of space gives way to half of Europa, which can be seen with reddish-brown stripes cutting through its icy white and blue surface. #Europa #Galileo #Jupiter
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