NASAのジュノー、エウロパの氷の殻を高解像度でとらえる(NASA’s Juno Provides High-Definition Views of Europa’s Icy Shell)

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2024-05-15 NASA

NASAの探査機ジュノーは木星の衛星エウロパの氷表面の変化を撮影し、新たな特徴を明らかにしました。2022年9月の最接近時に撮影された画像から、エウロパの外殻が自由に動く「真の極移動」の証拠が確認されました。また、高解像度の画像では、水蒸気噴出や塩水の存在を示すシミが捉えられ、「カモノハシ」と呼ばれる特徴的な形状も発見されました。この地形は地下の塩水が表面に影響を与えている可能性を示唆しています。これらの発見は、将来の探査ミッション「エウロパ・クリッパー」や「JUICE」にとって重要な調査対象となり、エウロパでの生命存在可能性の研究に役立つと期待されています。

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ジュノーのジュノカムによるエウロパの画像 Juno’s JunoCam Images of Europa

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
The Planetary Science Journal  Published:2024 March 21
DOI:10.3847/PSJ/ad24f4

NASAのジュノー、エウロパの氷の殻を高解像度でとらえる(NASA’s Juno Provides High-Definition Views of Europa’s Icy Shell)

Abstract

On 2022 September 29 the Juno spacecraft passed Europa at 355 km, the first close pass since the Galileo flyby in 2000. Juno’s visible-light imager, JunoCam, collected four images, enabling cartographic, topographic, and surface geology analysis. The topography along the terminator is consistent with previously reported features that may indicate true polar wander. A bright band was discovered, and indicates global symmetry in the stress field that forms bright bands on Europa. The named feature Gwern is shown not to be an impact crater. Surface change detection shows no changes in 22 yr, although this is a difficult task considering differences between the JunoCam and Galileo imagers and very different viewing geometries. No active eruptions were detected.

ジュノーの恒星参照ユニットが明らかにした、最近の活動を示唆するエウロパ表面の複雑な領域 A Complex Region of Europa’s Surface With Hints of Recent Activity Revealed by Juno’s Stellar Reference Unit

Heidi N. Becker, Jonathan I. Lunine, Paul M. Schenk, Meghan M. Florence, Martin J. Brennan, Candice J. Hansen, Yasmina M. Martos, Scott J. Bolton, James W. Alexander
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets  Published: 22 December 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008105

Details are in the caption following the image

Abstract

On 29 September 2022 Juno’s low-light sensitive Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) captured a high-resolution (256–340 m/pixel) broadband (450–1,100 nm) visible image of Europa’s icy surface during the first close flyby of the Jovian moon since Galileo’s last encounter in 2000. Collected at a sub-spacecraft altitude of 412 km while the surface was illuminated only by Jupiter-shine (incidence angle: 48–51°), the SRU image reveals a 3 × 104 km2 region between ∼0°–6°N and 43.5°–51°W in remarkable detail at the highest resolution to date. Prior coverage by Galileo under high-sun conditions at 1 km resolution led to the characterization of the terrain as ridged plains with undifferentiated linea. The SRU image reveals a much richer and more complex picture. Intricate networks of cross-cutting ridges and lineated bands surround an intriguing 37 km (east-west) by 67 km (north-south) chaos feature with a concentric fracture system, depressed matrix margins, and low-albedo materials potentially associated with brine infiltration. The morphology and local relief of the chaos feature are consistent with formation in the collapse of ice overlying a salt-rich lens of subsurface water. Low-albedo deposits, similar to features previously associated with hypothesized cryovolcanic plume activity, flank nearby ridges. The SRU’s high-resolution view of many types of features in a single image allows us to explore their regional context and greatly improve the geologic mapping of this part of Europa’s surface. The image reveals several relatively youthful features in a potentially dynamic region, providing baselines for candidate locations that future missions can investigate for present day surface activity.

Key Points

  • Juno’s Stellar Reference Unit imaged Europa’s surface at high resolution while it was illuminated by Jupiter-shine
  • The image reveals a feature-rich region between 0°–6°N and 43.5°–51°W with hints of relatively recent activity
  • A young 37 km by 67 km chaos feature and some low-albedo deposits adjacent to double ridges may be associated with subsurface liquid water

Plain Language Summary

On 29 September 2022, the Juno spacecraft performed the first close flyby of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa in generation. The low-light sensitive Juno SRU navigation camera was used to photograph a part of the surface that was lit only by sunlight scattered off Jupiter, from a spacecraft-to-surface distance of 412 km. This innovative use of a high-resolution star camera designed to detect dim stars produced Juno’s highest resolution image of Europa, and provides the highest resolution coverage of the targeted region to date. The imaged area is revealed to be incredibly complex and rich with many different types of terrains and features. Dark stains that may be associated with plumes, and an area of ice shell disruption nicknamed “the Platypus,” are compelling targets for future missions to investigate possible present day surface activity.

1701物理及び化学
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