Europa

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=**__Europa__ **=

__Characteristics of Astronomic Body__
Europa's radius is 1565 km. Europa has a metallic core, this core is surrounded by rock shell which is surronunded by a shell of ice. It was discovered in 1610 by Simon Marius and Galileo Galilei. Europa is equal to Earth is mass and its orbital period in days is 3.551181.

__Symbols and Duties of Europa __
Europa was a Phoenician princess who, because of Jupiter, became the first queen of Crete. Europa has no symbols.

__Birth Story of Europa __
Europa is the daughter of Agenor and Telephassa. She had two brothers, Cilix and Cadmus.

__Popular Story of Europa __
One day, Europa and her friends were picking flowers on her father's farm. Jupiter saw her and was stunned by her beauty and grace. So Jupiter transformed himself into a beautiful white bull and blended into her father's herd of cattle. Europa noticed the bull and began to pet it. Eventually, she trusted it enough to ride it. But when she hopped on to the bull, it ran and swam through the ocean leading her to an island. When they arrived at the island, Jupiter revealed his true form and gave her three children, Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon. He made her the first queen of Crete and gave her three gifts: a magical man made of bronze who guarded Crete, Laelaps the hunting dog, and a javelin that always hit its target.

__Related Stories __
Sarpedon, one of Europa's sons, was the leader of Lycia and an ally af the Trojans. He was killed by Achilles' friend Patroclus.

__Myth or Science Connection __
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 * Because Europa was one of Jupiter's many lovers, one of the moons orbiting Jupiter is named after her. All of the moons orbiting Jupiter are named after one of his lovers.

**__Sources __**
<[]> Loggia.com.2008. web. 8, December, 2009 Waddel, Edward. <[]> Edward J. Waddell Ltd. 2008. web. 9, December, 2009 Hamilton,Calvin <[]> Views of the Solar System. 2009. web. 9, December, 2009. = =