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Maculae on Europa

5 named features carry the IAU descriptor Macula — a dark spot on Europa, out of 13 in the mapped Solar System.

Named
5
of 129 named places on Europa — 3.9%
Largest
180 km
Thrace Macula
Median size
95 km
Across the 5 with a measured diameter
Named between
1979–2003
IAU approval dates

How maculae on Europa get their names

The IAU assigns each feature class on each world a naming theme. Across the 5 maculae with a recorded origin, one category covers them all, led by Greek.

Greek5

All 5 maculae on Europa

Every one has its own page, on the surface it sits on.

Maculae elsewhere in the Solar System

The same descriptor is used on 2 other worlds, for 8 more features.