Io's Photostream

14"x14" acrylic, heavy molding paste, photo copies and acrylic crayon, white gel pen.

The last of Jupiter's 4 important moons or at least important at this writing. Io's scientific story begins with the gigantic pull of Jupiter and the opposite pull by Europa and Ganymede which results in Io's surface heaving up and down like an ocean tide. This is one explanation of Io's volcanoes hurling and exploding sulphurous material at an amazing force. Io is one active moon which rivals Earth in volcanoes. On its pizza shape surface there is sulphurous snow and ice and huge lava beds and below all that might be a sulphur ocean?

The myth once again has Jupiter as fooling this young heart of Io and once again Juno (his wife) seeking revenge with magic and such. This story even brings in Mercury all to keep the chaos going and going and going!
These small photos of Io were taken by the Galileo spacecraft and I added them as multiples because they looked so alone and perfect and together as a review of the icy and volcanic beauty.
Looking at Saturn now and I hope to change it up...another vantage point....another interpretation...something but not sure what or how?

Oceans Europa

15"x15" on paper, collage, molding paste, acrylic and white ink.

Europa is one of the  four moons of Jupiter referred to as the Galilean satellites. Discovered by Galileo in 1610. Europa is the smallest of the four and its landscape is very much like a cracked cue-ball. A relatively young  moon and its surface looks like water seeping through faults which may have smoothed  the surface ice leaving the long stains. A global ocean may lie in the darkness under ground....under this ice!
I've purposely left out any Jupiter imaging on all four pieces and focused on the landscape and mythological stories of each moon. The star constellations behind this moon shape represent all the many named stories. In Europa's case the Taurus Bull is attached to the story...Callisto is connected to "The Bear" constellation.. note: Europa's  story as the others....disguises, kidnapping, lovemaking, birthing sons and in this myth Europa becomes queen of Crete.

I'm looking at IO as the last of the Galilean moons. There is more interesting myth and also some interesting science and possibly more water?!

Next will be Saturn, a huge distance from Jupiter...twice as far as Mercury to Jupiter so this will be a long ride! Is anyone familiar with a short story or book written about the moon Titan by Vonnegut? I have been on a search.
This will be a long trip in the darkness and I'm packing sandwiches and snacks for the travel ahead.  Even though I haven't left my chair, I can't help but feel the distance away from planet Earth and the Sun. Getting into this SPACE is a mind altering experience...very much like leaving home.

FYI: My computer is giving me fits and has been SLOW to visit some bloggers and if I  do visit its even slower to leave a  comment so I give up...I'm calling in the computer guy next week!