description Pwyll (Europa) Overview
Pwyll is a large impact crater located on the surface of Europa, the ice-covered moon of Jupiter. The crater features a prominent dark central peak surrounded by a bright, bowl-shaped depression measuring roughly 26 kilometers in diameter. Following the impact, a massive spray of fresh, bright icy material was ejected, creating a vast ray system that blankets the surrounding terrain for hundreds of kilometers. Named after a figure from Welsh mythology, Pwyll is considered one of the youngest geological features on the moon due to the pristine state of its rays.
insights Ranking position
Pwyll (Europa) ranks #48 of 165 in the Crater ranking, behind Clearwater Lake West, ahead of Odessa.
help Pwyll (Europa) FAQ
Why does Pwyll have such bright rays compared with older craters on Europa?
Pwyll's rays consist of relatively fresh water ice thrown across Europa during the impact. They remain bright because the crater is exceptionally young and has experienced less darkening and alteration than older terrain.
How large is Pwyll crater?
Pwyll itself is about 26 kilometers across, but its bright ejecta rays extend hundreds of kilometers over Europa. The ray system is far more visually prominent than the crater basin.
Why is Pwyll considered one of Europa's youngest major features?
Its crisp structure and bright, lightly altered ejecta suggest a comparatively recent impact. Images from NASA's Galileo spacecraft made this contrast with Europa's older, fractured surface especially clear.
Who is Pwyll crater named after?
The crater is named for Pwyll, a ruler of the otherworld in Welsh mythology. This follows the convention of naming many Europan features after figures and places associated with Celtic mythology.
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