Near-Terminator Image of Europa

This image of Europa's surface was obtained by the Solid State Imaging (CCD) system on board NASA's Galileo spacecraft during its fourth orbit of Jupiter, Linear features with bright central stripes referred to as "triple bands" are seen to transect the surface of Europa. Several of these triple bands are over 435 miles (700 kilometers) in length. In the left side of the image the surface of Europa is seen to be locally pitted and irregular. Ridges less than 62 miles (100 kilometers) in length are also visible in this region.

The area seen in this image, centered near 27 degrees South, 300 degrees West, is 456 miles (760 kilometers) by 510 miles (850 kilometers) across, which is approximately the size of the state of Texas or the country of France. North is to the top of the image, with the sun illuminating the surface from the left. The image which has a resolution of almost a mile (1.3 kilometers) per picture element (pixel) was obtained on Dec. 19th, 1996 (Universal Time).