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WHAT TO SEE
Streaks on the surface
The most spectacular features on Europa are the canal-like streaks that criss-cross the planet. Some are up to 20km across. These were probably caused by volcanic eruptions or geysers.
Underground oceans?
There is one other world in the Solar System that has streaks like these. They look surprisingly similar to the frozen Arctic seas on Earth when seen from above.
Could Europa's icy surface be floating on a vast liquid ocean, just like our icebergs? If it's true, then Europa could be the only other place with liquid water oceans. This makes it a prime candidate for housing primitive life.
 Look for signs of life on Europa
Galilean moons
Europa is the second of the four main moons of Jupiter. They are called the 'Galilean moons' because Galileo first spotted them through his telescope in 1610. The other three are called Io, Callisto and Ganymede.
LOCAL HISTORY
In Greek mythology, Europa was a Phoenician beauty, seduced by the God Zeus.
Zeus was the original Greek version of the Roman God, Jupiter. Zeus had many lovers and many of Jupiter's moons were named after his other partners.
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TRAVEL INFORMATION
Before you leave
If you are navigating using a compass, be aware that Europa's magnetic field changes periodically as the planet passes through Jupiter's own magnetic field.
This variation suggests there could be a large amount of material beneath Europa's surface that conducts electricity. Could this be a large ocean of salty water?
When you arrive
Make sure you bring your ice-skates. A smooth shell of frozen water covers the whole world. The lack of impact craters shows that its surface is very young.
SPOTTING EUROPA FROM THE EARTH
You can't spot Europa with the naked eye, as the light of Jupiter drowns it out.
Even using Earth-based telescopes, the moon seems only a little brighter than the background of stars.
Most of our information about Europa has been gathered by the Voyager and Galileo probes on their journeys past Jupiter in the 1980s.
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