Europa Carbon Dioxide Distribution (NIRCam and NIRSpec IFU Image)

Extended Description

Four square panels are arranged left to right in a horizontal strip. Each image is labeled near the bottom of its panel.

The first panel features a blue-and-white sphere against a black background, somewhat reminiscent of the famous “Blue Marble” picture of Earth from space. With fuzzy, diffuse edges, this sphere has darker blue patches in most of the northern hemisphere facing the viewer. One, large, crescent-shaped, white patch extends along left side of the southern hemisphere facing the viewer, and a larger, blobby, white patch covers the mid latitudes of the right side of the southern hemisphere. Lighter blue regions border these white patches in the south. Below the image is the label with the words “Europa (NIRCam).”

Each of the second, third, and fourth panels shows a pixelated, roughly circular image composed of small, white, blue, or orange squares. The orange or blue squares appear in various shades from very light to very dark. Several squares are a mixture of both orange and blue. In all three of these panels, the small, blue squares appear exclusively on the periphery. 

In the second panel’s image, there are no pure white squares. One of the lightest orange squares appears at the outer edge of the image, slightly below the 9 o’clock position. Several other very light orange squares reside at the interior, slightly below and to the right of the middle. The label below the image reads: “Crystalline CO₂ ice at 2.7 microns.”

In the third panel’s image, there is one pure white square, and it appears at the outer edge of the image, slightly below the 9 o’clock position. Several very light orange squares reside at the interior, at and to the right of the middle. The label below the image reads: “Crystalline CO₂ ice at 4.27 microns.”

In the fourth panel’s image, more blue squares appear to the upper right of the image than in the other two panels. Several pure white squares reside at the interior, slightly below and to the right of the middle. The label below the image reads: “Complex CO₂ ice at 4.25 microns.”

Image Alt Text

Four square panels appear in a horizontal strip. The first features a blue-and-white sphere against a black background, reminiscent of the “Blue Marble” picture of Earth. With fuzzy edges, this sphere has darker blue patches in the northern hemisphere and two large white patches in the southern hemisphere. Below it is the label: “Europa (NIRCam).” Each of the second, third, and fourth panels has a pixelated, roughly circular image of small, white, blue, or orange squares. The orange or blue squares appear in various shades. Several squares are a mix of both orange and blue. In each of these panels, there are slight variations in the arrangement of the colored squares. In the second panel, the label below the image reads: “Crystalline C O 2 ice at 2.7 microns.” In the third panel, the label below the image reads: “Crystalline C O 2 ice at 4.27 microns.” In the fourth panel, the label below the image reads: “Complex C O 2 ice at 4.25 microns.” See the extended description for more details.