Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Polar Cap on Europa

Nature volume 244, pages 559–560 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

WE report here photoelectric observations of two occultations of Jupiter's satellite Europa (JII) by the satellite Io (JI). The reductions in the intensity during these events exceeds predicted values (K. A., unpublished) by 80% and 55% for the nights of June 17, 1973, and June 24, 1973, respectively. The durations and absolute times of occurrence are in close agreement with the predictions, indicating that errors in the orbital parameters or in the satellite diameters are not introducing large errors into the predicted light curve. We therefore conclude that Europa has a bright polar cap extending from the north pole to latitude ∼30°.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dollfus, A., in Planets and Satellites (edit. by Kuiper, G. P.) 534 (Univ. Chicago Press, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pilcher, C. G., Ridgeway, S. T., and McCord, T. B., Science, N.Y., 178, 1087 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fink, U., Dekkers, N. H., and Larson, H. P., Astrophys. J. Lett., 179, L155 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Murphy, R. E., Cruikshank, D. P., and Morrison, D., Astrophys. J. Lett., 177, L93 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Brinkman, R. T., Icarus (in the press).

  6. Brinkman, R. T., and Millis, R. L., Sky Telesc., 45, 93 (1973).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Milbourn, S. W., and Carey, J. V., in Handbook of the British Astronomical Society (1973).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2840 Kolowalu Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822

    ROBERT E. MURPHY

  2. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138

    KAARE AKSNES

Authors
  1. ROBERT E. MURPHY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. KAARE AKSNES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MURPHY, R., AKSNES, K. Polar Cap on Europa. Nature 244, 559–560 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/244559a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/244559a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing