A Chain of Impact Craters on Callisto A portion of a chain of impact craters on Callisto is seen in this image taken by the Galileo spacecraft on November 4, 1996. This crater chain on Callisto is believed to result from the impact of a split object, similar to the fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 which smashed into Jupiter's atmosphere in July of 1994. On a global scale, Callisto is heavily cratered, indicating the great age of its surface. For example, downslope movement of ice-rich debris could bury small craters. The bright slopes visible in this picture represent places where downslope movement has taken place, exposing fresh ice surfaces.
North is to the top of the picture.
This could be dark ejecta from a small impact crater. All rights reserved.