Sharpest Earth-based images of Europa and Ganymede reveal their icy landscape

Ganymede and Europa are two of the four largest moons orbiting Jupiter, known as the Galilean moons

Ganymede (ESO/King & Fletcher)

The mixture of chemicals that make up the frozen surfaces on two of Jupiter’s largest moons have been revealed in the most detailed images of them ever taken by a telescope on Earth.

Planetary scientists from the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy unveiled new images of Europa and Ganymede, two future destinations for new missions to the giant planet’s system.