Platypus Chaos Terrain on Europa: NASA’s Latest Discovery
NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured a fascinating image of Europa, Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon, during a close flyby on September 29, 2022. The image shows a feature nicknamed «the Platypus,» which is a chaos terrain on Europa’s icy shell. This region contains hummocks, ridges, ice blocks, and dark reddish-brown material, and scientists suspect that it’s where pockets of saltwater from Europa’s subterranean ocean pool. The image also reveals a double ridge with possible saltwater stains, indicating plumes rising up from the ocean. Additionally, Juno’s observations suggest that Europa’s icy shell is free-floating, as the icy crusts at the north and south poles have shifted. These discoveries pave the way for future missions to Europa, including NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s Juice mission.
Europa’s Mysterious Movements: Juno’s Insights
Europa, with its magnetic field, tenuous atmosphere, liquid iron core, and salty ocean beneath an 11-mile thick icy shell, has always intrigued scientists. Juno’s recent image of Europa’s chaos terrain, known as «the Platypus,» suggests dynamic movements within the moon’s icy shell. The presence of hummocks, ridges, and ice blocks indicates a complex geological process, possibly driven by the subterranean ocean. The discovery of shifting icy crusts at the poles further supports the idea of a free-floating icy shell on Europa. These findings shed light on the moon’s mysterious geological activity and hint at the potential for life in its ocean.
Exploring Europa’s Secrets: Juno’s Revolutionary Discoveries
NASA’s Juno spacecraft’s recent close flyby of Europa has unveiled groundbreaking insights into the moon’s geological dynamics. The image of «the Platypus» chaos terrain, with its unique features and possible saltwater deposits, provides valuable clues about the interaction between Europa’s icy shell and subsurface ocean. Juno’s observations of shifting icy crusts at the poles suggest a dynamic, free-floating shell on Europa, challenging previous assumptions about the moon’s stability. These discoveries not only deepen our understanding of Europa’s geology but also set the stage for future exploration missions, such as NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s Juice mission.
