03 February, 1998. The Galileo spacecraft has made great strides
in understanding the large satellites of Jupiter. New violent
eruptions are seen coming from Io, which appears from its density
and magnetic actions to have an iron core. Europa indeed seems to
have a deep water ocean topped by ice. Close-up imaging shows
cracks and rafting -- ice movement -- effects that look very much
like those seen on Earth. Ganymede has an active, grooved surface
perhaps produced by relatively recent water volcanoes and has a
magnetic field as well. Io, Europa, and Ganymede all seem to have
iron cores.