Europa, the brightest of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites, may have a
surface of thin ice crust overlying water or softer ice, with
large-scale fracture and ridge systems appearing in the crust. Europa
has a density about three times that of water, suggesting it is a
mixture of silicate rock and some water. Very few impact craters are
visible on the surface, implying a continual resurfacing process,
perhaps by the production of fresh ice or snow along cracks and cold
glacier-like flows.
Ganymede
Ganymede, largest of Jupiter’s 13 satellites, has bright “young” ray
craters; light, linear stripes resembling the outer rings of a very
large, ancient impact basin; grooved terrain with many faults; and
regions of dark, heavily cratered terrain. Among the Galilean
satellites, Ganymede probably has the greatest variety of geologic
processes recorded on its surface and may be the best example for
studying the evolution of Jupiter’s inner satellites. Imbedded within
Jupiter’s magnetosphere, Ganymede is subjected to the influences of the
corotating charged-particle plasma and an interaction may exist with
this plasma. No atmosphere has been detected.
Callisto
The icy, dirt-laden surface of Callisto appears to be very ancient and
heavily cratered. The large concentric rings indicate the remains of
several enormous impact basins, created by huge meteors crashing into
the surface, and since erased by the flow of the crust. Callisto’s
density (less than twice that of water) is very close to that of
Ganymede, yet there is little or no evidence of the crustal motion and
internal activity that is visible on Ganymede.
The Magnetosphere
Perhaps the largest structure in the solar system is the magnetosphere
of Jupiter. This is the region of space which is filled with Jupiter’s
magnetic field and is bounded by the interaction of that magnetic field
with the solar wind, which is the Sun’s outward flow of charged
particles. The plasma of electrically charged particles that exists in
the magnetosphere is flattened into a large disk more than 4.8 million
kilometers (3 million miles) in diameter, is coupled to the magnetic
field, and rotates around Jupiter. The Galilean satellites are located
in the inner regions of the magnetosphere where they are subjected to
intense radiation bombardment. It appears that Io is a source of the
sulfur and oxygen ions which fill the magnetosphere. Another
magnetospheric interaction is the electrical connection between Io and
Jupiter along the magnetic field lines that leave Jupiter and intersect
Io. This magnetic flux tube was examined by Voyager 1 and a flow of
about five million amperes of current was measured, which was
considerably more than anticipated. Voyager also discovered a new
low-frequency radio emission coming from Jupiter, which is possibly
associated with the Io torus.
Scientific investigations of the Voyager mission
Investigation Typical Jovian encounter objectives
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