This is an image of the Pwyll crater of Europa taken by the Galileo spacecraft.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of NASA

Soft Craters on Europa

The surface of Europa shows many signs of that there may be a submerged ocean. For example, this image of the Pwyll crater on Europa looks as if it was formed by something that fell into a slushy layer, rather than a rigid surface.

Other signs of a submerged ocean include:

* flooded terrain

* 'freckles'

* rafting, and

* spreading ridges.

Last modified September 19, 2003 by Roberta Johnson.

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