This drawing illustrates the general composition of icy moons.
The Composition of Icy Moons
Not only ice but several different kinds of snow (crushed ice) have been found on the surfaces of these moons.
Scientists can only guess what the inside is made of, but when the Voyager missions flew by some the icy moons, measurements were made that showed that the inside of the moons might also made of ice.
The fact that the major moons are made primarily of ice suggests a certain path for the evolution of these bodies.
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The diagram to the left shows the possible interior of Europa. The composition of the icy moons is mostly ice, therefore there is probably a small core of rocky material buried inside, covered with ice.
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Amalthea was discovered by E Barnard in 1872. Of the 17 moons it is the 3rd closest to Jupiter. Amalthea is about the size of a county or small state. Amalthea is named after the goat in Greek mythology
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The surface of Callisto is deeply marked with craters. Craters are the little white marks in the picture. It looks like it might be the most heavily cratered body in the whole solar system. And some of
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