[NTD, ora di Pechino, 08 ottobre 2022]Last week, NASA (NASA) space probes orbiting JupiterJuneau(Juno) He photographed the covered with snowEuropeThe last image of the photo shows that its surface is covered with what looks like a highway, arousing the curiosity and imagination of netizens.
Europe(Europe), also calledEuropeit is one of the natural satellites of Jupiter, first discovered in 1610 by the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei.
September 29JuneauRightEuropeDuring its first flyby mission, the spacecraft flew over Europa at an altitude of only 352 kilometers, making it the third close-up exploration of Europa in history.
New high-resolution photos show that Europa is covered in what looks like a highway rather than craters, and stretches for miles. Scientists also admit that the photo has a “severely fractured ice shell” that is perplexing.
NASA said, “This image covers an area of approximately 93 miles (150 kilometers) by 125 miles (200 kilometers) of the surface of Europa, showing a network of criss-crossing depressions and double ridges (a pair of long parallel lines representing the elevation characteristics). “
“Near the top right corner of the image, to the right and below the center, there are a fewblackheads, probably related to something below that erupts to the surface. ‘added NASA.
Netizens commented on social media, with some defining the lines on a highway road map, others saying they were traces of something sliding on the ice, and some pointing out that they saw a five-pointed star in the photo. As for NASA’s mention of “blackheads“, some pointed out, that the blob looked more like a” giant footprint “.
Scientists at NASA also have their own opinion, suspecting the lines are spots on the surface of Europa “separate” and dark stuff “from below the surface” filling the cracks.
“Many believe that cracks and ridges in the ice crust mark faint lines within the moon’s ice crust,” said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of the Juno mission.
“These cracks are accentuated and deepened by the expansion and contraction of the tides caused by Jupiter’s gravity,” Bolton said.
Juno Stellar Reference Unit principal co-investigator Heidi Becker said the image was revealing incredible detail in a region that had never before been shot in such resolution and lighting conditions.
“These features are so fascinating. Understanding how they formed and how they relate to Europa’s history can give us an insight into the internal and external processes that shaped the ice shell,” Becker said.
Europe is thought to be the most likely place outside of Earth to find life, but it is likely aquatic, not terrestrial.
Europa, the fifth largest moon in the solar system and about 90% of our moon, is believed to hide a huge ocean of salt water beneath its icy exterior that can hold twice as much water as Earth’s total oceans.
NASA said it plans to launch the Europa Clipper in October 2024 to investigate questions about Europa’s habitability, and Juno’s latest data provides a preview of what will be revealed.
The latest photos were taken by a public awareness camera on Juno, JunoCam, which, unlike other space tools typically used and controlled by professional scientists and astronomers, allows the public to view, analyze and process photos.
(Full report by reporter Li Zhaoxi / editor in charge: Lin Qing)
URL of this article: https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2022/10/08/a103546783.html
