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Encyclopedia > Jupiter > Satellites > Europa I

EUROPA : SATELLITE II OF JUPITER

Credit : NASA

Europa seen by the Voyager spacecraft

As Io, Europa is one of the satellites observed by Galileo in 1610 because of its brightness. Europa is the smallest of the Galilean satellites but not the least brilliant: its surface consists of a pack ice probably covering an ocean.

As Ganymede and Callisto, Europa is made of a large amount of water.

Click here for an animation watching the rotation of Europa (Credit : NASA).