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Classroom Activity: Mapping Alien Worlds

A multi-layered surface is visible, composed of legos. The different colors relate to different surface elevations.

In this activity, students analyze simulated radar data to map surface elevations on a grid. Next, they determine what kind of surface feature is displayed by the data. Students then build a physical model representing their data.

View the full classroom activity on the JPL Education website ›

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These cracks and ridges in the south polar region of Jupiter's moon Europa have been rotated into sigmoidal or "S" shapes by the motion of Astypalaea Linea, a strike-slip fault in the moon's icy su...
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black and whire view of curving ridges on an icy surface
Cracks and Ridges Distorted by Europan Fault Motion
An engineer ground tests Europa Clipper’s dust analyzer.
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The SUDA sensor head rests upon a table in a clean room. The sensor head is gold in color, shaped slightly like a drum on its side with a door facing the viewer that is closed. An engineer in white coveralls, a mask, and light blue gloves is on the right side of the image and is seen peering over the instrument. The engineer is holding a handheld device attached a blue wire, which itself is attached to the sensor head, and they perform a test. Is a purple light is shown on the table and on the front of the engineer.
Electrical Ground Testing Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer
As infrared light enters Europa Clipper’s MISE instrument, mirrors bounce the light into its calcium fluoride (CaF2) lens (flight model shown), which directs the light onto a diffraction grating.
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As infrared light enters Europa Clipper’s MISE instrument, mirrors bounce the light into its calcium fluoride (CaF2) lens (flight model shown), which directs the light onto a diffraction grating.
MISE Dyson CaF2 Lens
Galileo orbiter near-infrared observations of Europa overlayed on a Voyager map.
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Small color-enhanced areas on a large black and white map.
Near-Infrared Mapping Coverage of Europa
This view of the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa, is a mosaic of two pictures taken by the Solid State Imaging system on board the Galileo spacecraft during a close flyby of Europa on Feb. 20...
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black and white view of ridges on an icy surface
Mosaic of Europa's Ridges, Craters
Join team members from NASA’s Europa Clipper mission behind the scenes in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to learn about the design of this spacecraft that will visit Europa, an ic...
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Join team members from NASA’s Europa Clipper mission behind the scenes in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to learn about the design of this spacecraft that will visit Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter.
Spacecraft Makers: Introducing Europa Clipper
Build your own version of Europa Clipper, learning how each part of the spacecraft fits together as you go. 
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Simple paper model of Europa Clipper available for download.
Europa Clipper Paper Model
This view of Jupiter's icy moon Europa shows a region shaped like a mitten that has a texture similar to the matrix of chaotic terrain, which is seen in medium and high resolution images of numerou...
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black and white view of depression in an surface
Mitten Shaped Region of Chaotic Terrain on Europa
Print your own 3D scale model of Europa Clipper!
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Visual showing 3D model available for download.
Europa Clipper Scale Model - 3D Print
The icy surface of Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, was photographed by the Galileo spacecraft on its fourth orbit around Jupiter. 
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landforms on an icy surface
Flows on Europa
The team working on the Europa Imaging System narrow angle camera took its “first light” image with the telescope and detector.
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A test pattern in the shape of an L, with stripes at the bottom that show color filters.
Narrow Angle Camera First Light
This animation showing a flyover of southern part of Thrace Macula on Europa was created using stereo imaging data obtained by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.
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A 3D black-and-white flyover of Europa's surface.
Thrace Macula Flyover
This graphic of Jupiter's moon Europa maps a relationship between the amount of energy deposited onto the moon from charged-particle bombardment and the chemical contents of ice deposits on the sur...
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two global views of Europa with colors representing chemical components
Energy From Above Affecting Surface of Europa
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer. 
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Image showing Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer will analyze gases in Europa’s faint atmosphere and possible plumes. It will study the chemistry of the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean, how ocean and surface exchange material, and how radiation alters compounds on the moon’s surface. Credit: NASA/SwRI
Mass Spectrometer Electronics Box
An engineering model of the focal plane module for Europa Clipper’s E-THEMIS instrument. 
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close-up view of the focal plane module of E-THEMIS
Europa Clipper E-THEMIS Thermal Camera Focal Plane Module
This view from NASA's Galileo spacecraft shows a severely fractured surface on Europa.
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Black and white image close-up of surface.
Fractured Land
This moderate-resolution view of the surface of one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, shows the complex icy crust that has been extensively modified by fracturing and the formation of ridges.
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black and white view of complex terrain on an icy surface
Europa Ridges, Hills and Domes
This mosaic of the south polar region of Jupiter's moon Europa shows the northern 180 miles (290 kilometers) of a strike-slip fault named Astypalaea Linea.
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linear terrain features on an icy surface
San Andreas-sized Strike-slip Fault on Europa
These images reveal the dramatic topography of Europa's icy crust.
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A black and white and 3D image on ridges on Europa.
3D View of Double Ridges on Europa
Reanalysis of old data data suggests that the Galileo spacecraft, on its closest flyby of Europa, flew through a plume.
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Video describing new discoveries at Europa using old data.
Re-analyzing Old Data Reveals New Evidence at Europa
This image of Europa was taken by the Galileo spacecraft under "low-Sun" illumination.
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Shadowy hills on Europa
Terrain Shadows on Europa
Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph is the first science instrument installed on the spacecraft’s nadir deck.
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A matte-gray polygonal structure about the size of a coffee table sits on end in a white and gray room, and an electronics box is mounted to the structure’s right side.
Ultraviolet Spectrograph Integration
These images reveal the dramatic topography of Europa's icy crust.
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black and white view of ridges on an icy terrain, accompanied by an enlarged section and a view where colors indicate altitude
Three Dimensional View of Double Ridges on Europa
A 3D model of Gravity/Radio Science, a radar & gravity instrument on Europa Clipper.
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3d model of the Gravity/Radio Science instruments
Gravity/Radio Science
This image, acquired by NASA's Galileo spacecraft on Sept. 26, 1998, shows features on the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa that a scientific report interprets as signs of compressive folding.
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two black and white views of ridged surface under different lighting conditions
Folds on Europa

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