“Europa”

by Michael Boss
Casein on Rag Board
10” X 15”

From the Collection of Michael Balthazor

Galileo Galilei discovered Jupiter’s four inner moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, the largest of its known 63, in 1610.  Much later, they were “enhanced” by the two Pioneer spacecraft in 1979 and further in 1996 by the Galileo mission.

The frigid face of Europa can certainly be called chaotic!  Icy plains, reddish-brown mottle, straight and curved ridges, flows, and fractures make up the surface.

I based the painting on amazing chaotic terrain images in Europa’s southern hemisphere.