New data from JWST of Jupiter's moon Europa has identified the sub-surface ocean as the source of CO2 deposits in a region called Tara Regio.

Previous studies, including observations by the Galileo mission many years ago, had detected CO2 but could not rule out an asteroid origin for the CO2.

The 10x10 pixelated images show wavelengths measured by the NIRSpec instrument in 320 x 320 km cells covering Europa. The white pixels correspond to CO2.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/nasa-s-webb-finds-carbon-source-on-surface-of-jupiter-s-moon-europa
#JWST #Europa
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Tara Regio is the yellowish area shown in these images of Europa’s surface taken by the NASA Galileo spacecraft in June 1997 from a distance of 1.25 million km.

In 2019, visible light spectroscopic observations by Hubble identified sodium chloride (common salt) in the yellow colored regions, including Tara Regio.

Although not conclusive, the NaCl is believed to originate from the sub-surface ocean.

https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2019/37/4544-Image.html?news=true
https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2019/news-2019-37.html#section-id-2
#JWST #Europa #Galileo
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Europa is of course an intriguing world, one that has captured the attention and imagination of scientists, artists and writers over the years.

Its surface is covered with ice, underneath which, a vast salty ocean is suspected; watery plumes have been observed by Hubble.The icy surface provides protection from radiation. Jupiter's gravity cause tidal flexing and heating.

Europa is one of the best candidates for finding life outside earth.

https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/165/simulated-view-from-europas-surface-artists-concept/
#JWST #Europa
3/n

These artist's drawings depict two proposed models of the subsurface structure of Europa.
1. A warm, convecting ice layer, located several km below a cold, brittle surface ice crust
or
2. A layer of liquid water with a possible depth of more than 100 km with an icy crust.

Water, minerals, carbon, peroxide, energy, protection from radiation ... can life be far behind?

https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01669
#JWST #Europa
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One cannot help but be reminded of this scene about Europa from the film 2010, written by Arthur C. Clarke.

How many times have you seen the films 2001 and 2010?

https://youtu.be/ZwFXtJKaC3A
#JWST #Europa
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There are two missions to Europa in the pipeline -
1. The ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) probe launched last year, ETA 2031.
2. The NASA Europa Clipper, planned launch in October 2024, ETA 2030.

Both probes will make multiple close flybys and observations of Europa while in orbit around Jupiter (to avoid Jupiter's strong radiation belts).

Juice will eventually enter orbit around Ganymede.

No landing will be attempted 😇

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_Icy_Moons_Explorer#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Clipper
#JWST #Europa
6/n

The NASA Europa Lander is the mission to wait for. It is still under study and not funded for development.

Besides using a host of instruments to analyze the surface and sub-surface, the Europa Lander would collect and analyze samples from ~10 cm beneath the icy surface, a depth where complex chemistry of materials from the ocean below would be protected from Jupiter's strong radiation.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-lander
https://d2pn8kiwq2w21t.cloudfront.net/documents/2020_ELOW_Final_20200514_Post_v2.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_Lander
#JWST #Europa
7/n

20 years ago on Sep 21 2003, the NASA Galileo spacecraft ended its mission by plunging into Jupiter's atmosphere.

During its 8 year mission, Galileo sent back some astounding data and images of Jupiter and its moons, using its 800x800 CCD camera with a 7-inch Cassegrain telescope.

And yes, Galileo detected CO2 and H2O2 on Europa.

Here is a sample of hi-res enhanced-color images of Europa by Galileo.

https://www.seti.org/old-galileo-images-europa-reveal-new-details#JWST #Europa
https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/target/europa?subselect=Mission:Galileo:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/galileo/overview/
#Europa
8/n

Europa - a land of ice.
Discovered by Galileo in 1610, it has no mountains, no valleys, no rivers, no surface oceans, no craters, no rocks, no rain or snow. Its surface is tiled with thick ice plates, jostling with each other, creating cracks, occasionally launching plumes of water from the vast ocean underneath.

Avg surface temp: −160 °C to -220 °C

https://europa.nasa.gov/why-europa/evidence-for-an-ocean/
#JWST #Europa
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