The original close-up view for this model of the icy surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, was obtained on December 20, 1996, by the Solid State Imaging system on board the Galileo spacecraft during its fourth orbit around Jupiter. The model covers an area about 11 kilometers by 11 kilometers (7 miles by 7 miles).

A flat smooth area about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) across is seen in the left part of the picture. This area resulted from flooding by a fluid which erupted onto the surface and buried sets of ridges and grooves. The smooth area contrasts with a prominent ridge system running down the right side of the model. Eruptions of material onto the surface, crustal disruption, and the formation of complex networks of folded and faulted ridges show that significant energy was available in the interior of Europa. [Description adapted from the NASA Photojournal]

The master model for this terrain plaque was sculpted by planetary artist David Angus, who is also responsible for the masters of Tohil Mons (Io), Titan, and Ganymede.

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