Close up of Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, 1979

Close up of Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, 1979. This picture was taken by one of the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977 to explore the planets in the outer solar system. Both flew past Jupiter in 1979. Jupiter has four main moons, which were discovered by Galileo, as well as many smaller ones (47 Jovian moons are currently known). Europa, seen here photographed by Voyager 1, is the second closest of Jupiter's main moons. It has a very smooth surface with few craters and no volcanoes, but features distinct long markings, probably cracks or pressure ridges in the water ice which covers the moon's surface. Scientists believe that it is possible that liquid water, heated by tidal energy, exists beneath Europa's icy surface, making it a possible home for extraterrestrial life. A tenuous oxygen atmosphere also exists. ©SSPL/NASA