美国宇航局的朱诺探测器提供了欧罗巴冰壳的高清图像

NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided high-definition images of Jupiter's moon Europa, revealing signs of possible plume activity and disrupted ice shell areas. The images from the JunoCam visible-light camera and the Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) support the theory that the icy crust at the moon's poles is not in its original position. The recent flyby of Europa by Juno allowed for the capture of the first high-resolution images of the moon since 2000.

The imaging near Europa's equator revealed irregularly distributed steep-walled depressions, suggesting "true polar wander," where the moon's outer ice shell is essentially free-floating and moves independently from its rocky interior. Additionally, a formerly prominent surface feature, Crater Gwern, was reclassified as a set of intersecting ridges in the high-resolution imagery.

The SRU's image, taken using an innovative approach to avoid over-illumination, revealed intricate networks of cross-cutting ridges and potential plumes of water vapor on Europa's nightside. One notable feature, named "the Platypus," displayed chaotic terrain with hummocks, ridges, and dark reddish-brown material, indicating potential subsurface liquid water presence.

The discoveries from Juno's observations provide valuable insights for future missions, including NASA's Europa Clipper and ESA's Juice missions, which aim to investigate Europa's potential habitability and study multiple targets in the Jovian system. Juno continues its exploration of Jupiter's moons and is scheduled for further flybys, contributing to our understanding of the complex dynamics within the Jovian system.