Citizen science improves NASA’s new images of the moon Europa

They have provided unique insights into the recent flyby of Jupiter’s icy moon by NASA’s Juno spacecraft “Their work provides a perspective that is based on both science and art,” said mission principal investigator Las JunoCam images help fill in the gaps in maps from images obtained by NASA’s Voyager and Galileo missions Amateur scientists have provided unique insights into the recent close flyby of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa by NASA’s Juno spacecraft NASA. By processing images from JunoCam, the spacecraft’s public engagement camera, they have created deep-space portraits of the Jovian moon that are not only impressive, but also warrant further scientific scrutiny, according to NASA. flyby of Earth in 2013, Juno’s citizen scientists have been invaluable in processing the many images we obtain. Join Juno,” said Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator at the Southwest Research Center in San Antonio. “During every flyby of Jupiter, and now its moons, their work provides a perspective that draws on both science and art. They are a crucial part of our team, leading the way by using our images for new discoveries.” These latest images of Europa do just that, pointing us to surface features that reveal details about how Europa works and what might be lurking both on top of the ice and below.” JunoCam took four photos during its flyby of Europe on September 29. The closest, 1,521 kilometers above a region of the moon called Annwn Regio. In the image, the terrain next to the boundary between day and night is revealed to be rugged, with pits and depressions. Numerous bright and dark ridges and bands stretch across a fractured surface, revealing tectonic stresses the moon has endured for millennia. The dark circular feature at lower right is Callanish crater. View of the moon Europa created by processing an image that JunoCam captured during Juno’s close flyby on September 29 NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing by Björn Jónsson CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Union of Science and Art In the image ( https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/citizen-scientists-enhance-new… ) processed by Navaneeth Krishnan, the enhanced color contrast makes larger surface features stand out more than in the lightly processed version of the image (left). An example of the results can be seen at the bottom right of the enhanced image, where wells and a small block cast noticeable shadows. The small-scale texture of the image’s surface must be studied carefully to distinguish between features and processing artifacts, but the image takes us deeper into Europa’s alien landscape. A citizen scientist processed the image on the right, and enhanced color contrast makes larger surface features stand out.NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Navaneeth Krishnan S © CC BY These JunoCam images help fill in the gaps in the maps of images obtained by NASA’s Voyager and Galileo missions. Citizen scientist Björn Jónsson processed the image to improve color and contrast. The resolution is about 1 kilometer per pixel.This highly stylized view of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa was created by reprocessing an image captured by JunoCamNASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS. Image processing: Kevin M. Gill / Fernando García Navarro CC BY 2.0Citizen scientist Fernando García Navarro applied his artistic talents to create another striking image. Navarro downloaded and processed an image that citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill had previously worked on, producing a psychedelic rendering he titled “Autumn Colors of Europe.”