Images from the solar-powered spacecraft revealed intriguing functions on the ice-encased Jovian moon, consisting of geological interruptions and prospective plume activity, suggesting liquid water and brine reaching the surface.Images captured by the JunoCam visible-light cam aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft support the theory that the icy crust at the north and south poles of Jupiters moon Europa is not where it utilized to be. They look like large ovoid pits formerly discovered in imagery from other locations of Europa.A huge ocean is believed to live below Europas icy exterior, and these surface area features have been associated with “true polar wander,” a theory that Europas external ice shell is moves.this and essentially free-floating black-and-white image of Europas surface area was taken by the Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft during the September 29, 2022, flyby. Ridge formations collapse into the function at the edges of the Platypus.For the Juno team, these formations support the concept that Europas ice shell may provide way in locations where pockets of briny water from the subsurface ocean are present underneath the surface.About 31 miles (50 kilometers) north of the Platypus is a set of double ridges flanked by dark stains comparable to features discovered somewhere else on Europa that researchers have assumed to be cryovolcanic plume deposits.”Europa Clippers focus is on Europa– including investigating whether the icy moon might have conditions suitable for life. References:”Junos JunoCam Images of Europa” by C. J. Hansen, M. A. Ravine, P. M. Schenk, G. C. Collins, E. J. Leonard, C. B. Phillips, M. A. Caplinger, F. Tosi, S. J. Bolton and Björn Jónsson, 21 March 2024, The Planetary Science Journal.DOI: 10.3847/ PSJ/ad24f4Reference: “A Complex Region of Europas Surface With Hints of Recent Activity Revealed by Junos Stellar Reference Unit” by Heidi N. Becker, Jonathan I. Lunine, Paul M. Schenk, Meghan M. Florence, Martin J. Brennan, Candice J. Hansen, Yasmina M. Martos, Scott J. Bolton and James W. Alexander, 22 December 2023, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.DOI: 10.1029/ 2023JE008105JPL, a department of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno objective for the principal private investigator, Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.
Jupiters moon Europa was caught by the JunoCam instrument aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft during the missions close flyby on September 29, 2022. The images show the fractures, ridges, and bands that crisscross the moons surface area. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ MSSS, Björn Jónsson (CC BY 3.0)NASAs Juno has actually supplied images that support the theory of real polar roam on Europa, showing the moons ice shell has actually shifted. Images from the solar-powered spacecraft revealed intriguing features on the ice-encased Jovian moon, including geological interruptions and possible plume activity, suggesting liquid water and salt water reaching the surface.Images captured by the JunoCam visible-light cam aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft support the theory that the icy crust at the north and south poles of Jupiters moon Europa is not where it utilized to be. Additionally, a high-resolution image from the spacecrafts Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) shows indicators of possible plume activity and disruptions in the ice shell, recommending that salt water may have recently bubbled to the surface.The JunoCam results were recently published in the Planetary Science Journal and the SRU results were published in the journal JGR Planets.On September 29, 2022, Juno made its closest flyby of Europa, coming within 220 miles (355 kilometers) of the moons frozen surface area. The 4 pictures taken by JunoCam and one by the SRU are the first high-resolution images of Europa considering that Galileos last flyby in 2000. Real Polar WanderJunos ground track over Europa permitted imaging near the moons equator. When analyzing the data, the JunoCam group discovered that together with the expected ice blocks, walls, troughs, scarps, and ridges, the camera likewise recorded irregularly dispersed steep-walled depressions 12 to 31 miles (20 to 50 kilometers) wide. They look like big ovoid pits previously discovered in imagery from other locations of Europa.A giant ocean is thought to live below Europas icy outside, and these surface area features have actually been related to “real polar wander,” a theory that Europas external ice shell is basically free-floating and moves.This black-and-white image of Europas surface was taken by the Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft during the September 29, 2022, flyby. The chaos function nicknamed “the Platypus” is seen in the lower ideal corner. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI”True polar roam happens if Europas icy shell is decoupled from its rocky interior, leading to high stress levels on the shell, which result in foreseeable fracture patterns,” said Candy Hansen, a Juno co-investigator who leads preparation for JunoCam at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. “This is the very first time that these fracture patterns have actually been mapped in the southern hemisphere, recommending that true polar wanders result on Europas surface area geology is more comprehensive than formerly determined.”The high-resolution JunoCam imagery has actually also been utilized to reclassify a formerly popular surface function from the Europa map.”Crater Gwern disappears,” stated Hansen. “What was once believed to be a 13-mile-wide effect crater– among Europas couple of documented impact craters– Gwern was revealed in JunoCam information to be a set of intersecting ridges that developed an oval shadow.”This annotated picture of Europas surface from Junos SRU shows the area of a double ridge running east-west (blue box) with possible plume stains and the chaos function the team calls “the Platypus” (orange box). These features hint at present surface area activity and the existence of subsurface liquid water on the icy Jovian moon. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRIThe PlatypusAlthough all 5 Europa images from Juno are high-resolution, the image from the spacecrafts black-and-white SRU offers the many information. Developed to spot dim stars for navigation functions, the SRU is sensitive to low light. To avoid over-illumination in the image, the group utilized the video camera to snap the nightside of Europa while it was lit only by sunlight scattered off Jupiter (a phenomenon called “Jupiter-shine”). This ingenious technique to imaging allowed complex surface area includes to stand out, revealing detailed networks of cross-cutting ridges and dark spots from potential plumes of water vapor. One interesting function, which covers an area 23 miles by 42 miles (37 kilometers by 67 kilometers), was nicknamed by the team “the Platypus” due to the fact that of its shape.Characterized by chaotic terrain with hummocks, prominent ridges, and dark reddish-brown material, the Platypus is the youngest function in its neighborhood. Its northern “upper body” and southern “expense”– connected by a fractured “neck” formation– interrupt the surrounding terrain with a lumpy matrix material containing numerous ice obstructs that are 0.6 to 4.3 miles (1 to 7 kilometers) large. Ridge developments collapse into the feature at the edges of the Platypus.For the Juno team, these developments support the idea that Europas ice shell might pave the way in places where pockets of briny water from the subsurface ocean are present below the surface.About 31 miles (50 kilometers) north of the Platypus is a set of double ridges flanked by dark spots comparable to features found in other places on Europa that scientists have actually assumed to be cryovolcanic plume deposits.”These functions mean present-day surface area activity and the presence of subsurface liquid water on Europa,” stated Heidi Becker, lead co-investigator for the SRU at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which also manages the mission. “The SRUs image is a high-quality baseline for specific places NASAs Europa Clipper objective and ESAs (European Space Agencys) Juice objectives can target to search for indications of change and salt water.”Europa Clippers focus is on Europa– consisting of examining whether the icy moon might have conditions appropriate for life. It is arranged to launch on the fall of 2024 and arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) launched on April 14, 2023. The ESA mission will reach Jupiter in July 2031 to study many targets (Jupiters 3 big icy moons, as well as intense Io and smaller moons, in addition to the planets environment, magnetosphere, and rings) with a special focus on Ganymede.Juno performed its 61st close flyby of Jupiter on May 12. Its 62nd flyby of the gas giant, set up for June 13, includes an Io flyby at an elevation of about 18,200 miles (29,300 kilometers). Recommendations:”Junos JunoCam Images of Europa” by C. J. Hansen, M. A. Ravine, P. M. Schenk, G. C. Collins, E. J. Leonard, C. B. Phillips, M. A. Caplinger, F. Tosi, S. J. Bolton and Björn Jónsson, 21 March 2024, The Planetary Science Journal.DOI: 10.3847/ PSJ/ad24f4Reference: “A Complex Region of Europas Surface With Hints of Recent Activity Revealed by Junos Stellar Reference Unit” by Heidi N. Becker, Jonathan I. Lunine, Paul M. Schenk, Meghan M. Florence, Martin J. Brennan, Candice J. Hansen, Yasmina M. Martos, Scott J. Bolton and James W. Alexander, 22 December 2023, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.DOI: 10.1029/ 2023JE008105JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, handles the Juno objective for the principal detective, Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno is part of NASAs New Frontiers Program, which is managed at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the companys Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) funded the Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and runs the spacecraft.