Comparison and Interpretation of Spectral Characteristics of the Leading and Trailing Hemispheres of Europa and Callisto

Europa and Callisto are two “extreme members” in a sequence of the Galilean ice satellites formed at different distances from Jupiter. The difference in their mean density probably reflects the material density gradient that appeared even in the subplanetary disk of Jupiter. At the same time, general peculiarities in the composition of the surfaces of Europa and Callisto apparently characterize the accumulated effect of all subsequent evolutionary processes, including current volcanic activity on the satellite Io and its ionized material transfer in Jovian magnetosphere, as well as chemical reactions taking place under low-temperature (within ~90–130 K) and irradiation conditions. In 2016–2017, we observed the leading and trailing hemispheres of Europa and Callisto in the spectral range of 1.0–2.5 μm at 2-m telescope of Caucasian Mountain Observatory (CMO) of Sternberg Astronomical Institute (SAI) of Moscow State University (MSU). We found that, on a global scale, Europa and Callisto exhibit similar spectral characteristics and, particularly, the maxima in the distributions of sulfuric acid hydrate in the trailing hemispheres of the both moons, which agrees with the data of previous measurements. This can be considered as evidence for general ion implantation on these and other moons in the radiation belts of Jupiter. Moreover, our spectral data suggest that water ice and hydrates (clathrates) of other compounds are dominant or abundant in the leading hemispheres of Europa and Callisto. Specifically, we detected a weak absorption band of CH₄ clathrate centered at ~1.67 μm in the reflectance spectra of the leading (the band is more intense) and trailing (the band is less intense) hemispheres of Europa. Weak signs of the same absorption band are also in the reflectance spectra of Callisto measured at its different orientations.     

Multiple-satellite-aided capture trajectories at Jupiter using the Laplace resonance

Satellite-aided capture is a mission design concept used to reduce the delta-v required to capture into a planetary orbit. The technique employs close flybys of a massive moon to reduce the energy of the planet-centered orbit. A sequence of close flybys of two or more of the Galilean moons of Jupiter may further decrease the delta-v cost of Jupiter orbit insertion. A Ganymede-Io sequence can save 207 m/s of delta-v over a single Io flyby. A phase angle analysis based on the Laplace resonance is used to find triple-satellite-aided capture sequences involving Io, Europa, and Ganymede. Additionally, the near-resonance of Callisto and Ganymede is used to find triple-satellite-aided capture sequences involving Callisto, Ganymede, and another moon. A combination of these techniques is used to find quadruple-satellite-aided capture sequences that involve gravity-assists of all four Galilean moons. These sequences can save a significant amount of delta-v and have the potential to benefit both NASA’s Jupiter Europa orbiter mission and ESA’s Jupiter Ganymede orbiter mission.     

Updated Numerical Ephemerides of the Galilean Satellites of Jupiter

New versions of the ephemerides for the Galilean satellites of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) constructed by numerically integrating the equations of motion of the satellites are presented. The satellite motionmodel takes into account the non-sphericity of Jupiter, the mutual perturbations of the satellites, and the perturbations from the Sun and major planets. The initial satellite motion parameters have been improved based on all the available series of ground-based optical observations spanning the interval 1891-2017, spacecraft observations, and radar observations. As a result, the coefficients of the expansion of the satellite coordinates and velocities in terms of Chebyshev polynomials in the interval 1891- 2025 have been obtained. The root-mean-square errors of the observations and the graphs of comparison of the constructed ephemerides both with the observations and with Lainey's numerical ephemerides are presented. The constructed ephemerides are publicly accessible.     

Developments in Jovian Radio Emissions Tomography and Observations Techniques

Jupiter radio emission is known to be the most powerful nonthermal planetary radiation. In recent years specifically space-based observations allow us to permanently cover a large frequency band(from 100 kHz up to 40 MHz combined with ground-based telescopes)of the Jovian spectrum. The Plasma and Wave Science experiment onboard Galileo enables the observation of Jovian kilometric and hectometric emissions; Wind/WAVES and ground-based telescopes (mainly Decametric Array in Nancay, France, and UTR-2 in Kharkov, Ukraine) cover also hectometric and mainly decametric emissions. Specific geometrical configurations between Cassini approaching Jupiter and Wind spacecraft orbiting Earth, with Galileo orbiting Jupiter and Wind, in combination with ground-based observations provide a new approach to perform Jovian radio tomography. The tomography technique is used to analyze ray paths of Jovian radio emission observed in different directions (e.g. solar and anti-solar direction) and for different declination of Earth. The developments of Jovian radio emission tomography in recent years treated refraction effects and its connection to the local magnetic field in the radio source as well as the radio wave propagation through the Io torus and the terrestrial ionosphere. Most recently ground-based multi-site and simultaneous Jupiter decametric radio observations by means of digital spectropolarimeter and waveform receiver provide the basis of a new data analysis treatment. The above addressed topics are without exemption deeply connected to the plasma structures the radio waves are generated in and propagating through. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of the resonant perturbation errors in Galilean satellite ephemerides using precisely measured eclipse times

Astrometric satellite positions are derived from timings of their eclipses in the shadow of Jupiter. The 548 data points span 20 years and are accurate to about 0.006 arcsec for Io and Europa and about 0.015 arcsec or better for Ganymede and Callisto. The precision of the data set and its nearly continuous distribution in time allows measurement of regular oscillations with an accuracy of 0.001 arcsec. This level of sensitivity permits detailed evaluation of modern ephemerides and reveals anomalies at the 1.3 year period of the resonant perturbations between Io, Europa and Ganymede. The E5 ephemeris shows large errors at that period for all three satellites as well as other significant anomalies. The L1 ephemeris fits the observations much more closely than E5 but discrepancies for the resonant satellites are still apparent and the measured positions of Io are drifting away from the predictions. The JUP230 ephemeris fits the observations more accurately than L1 although there is still a measurable discordance between the predictions and observations for Europa at the resonance period.     

Impact-generated dust clouds surrounding the Galilean moons

Tenuous dust clouds of Jupiter's Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto have been detected with the in-situ dust detector on board the Galileo spacecraft. The majority of the dust particles have been sensed at altitudes below five radii of these lunar-sized satellites. We identify the particles in the duut clouds surrounding the moons by their impact direction, impact velocity, and mass distribution. Average particle sizes are between 0.5 and 1 μm, just above the detector threshold, indicating a size distribution with decreasing numbers towards bigger particles. Our results imply that the particles have been kicked up by hypervelocity impacts of micrometeoroids onto the satellites' surfaces. The measured radial dust density profiles are consistent with predictions by dynamical modeling for satellite ejecta produced by interplanetary impactors (Krivov et al., 2003, Planet. Space Sci. 51, 251-269), assuming yield, mass and velocity distributions of the ejecta from laboratory measurements. A comparison of all four Galilean moons (data for Ganymede published earlier; Krüger et al., 2000, Planet. Space Sci. 48, 1457-1471) shows that the dust clouds of the three outer Galilean moons have very similar properties and are in good agreement with the model predictions for solid ice-silicate surfaces. The dust density in the vicinity of Io, however, is more than an order of magnitude lower than expected from theory. This may be due to a softer, fluffier surface of Io (volcanic deposits) as compared to the other moons. The log-log slope of the dust number density in the clouds vs. distance from the satellite center ranges between −1.6 and −2.8. Appreciable variations of number densities obtained from individual flybys with varying geometry, especially at Callisto, are found. These might be indicative of leading-trailing asymmetries of the clouds due to the motion of the moons with respect to the field of impactors.     

A summary of whistlers observed by Voyager 1 at Jupiter

The Voyager 1 observations of whistlers at Jupiter are summarized in order to provide a basis for further analyses of the density profile of the Io plasma torus as well as to support studies of atmospheric lightning at Jupiter. All the whistlers detected by Voyager I fell into three general regions in the torus at radial distances ranging between 5 and 6R_J. An analysis of the broadband wave amplitudes measured by the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument and estimates of the peak whistler amplitudes imply that the grouping of whistlers was due to variations in the sensitivity of the receiver to the whistlers and not to variations in the source or propagation paths of the whistlers. The whistler dispersions are presented in statistical form for each of the three groups of events and analyzed in view of the structure of the Io plasma torus as determined by plasma measurements. The results of these analyses give source locations for the whistlers at the foot of the magnetic field lines threading the torus in both hemispheres and over a range of longitudes.     

Europa's neutral cloud: morphology and comparisons to Io

Ground based observations of sodium escaping from Europa suggest the presence of an extended cloud of neutrals orbiting Jupiter. Using a Monte Carlo model we show that the large scale morphology differs from the sodium cloud at Io. At Europa, the trailing cloud is brighter and more extended than the leading cloud. We then use our results to consider the morphology of Europa's oxygen cloud.     

The plasma plumes of Europa and Callisto

We investigate the proposition that Europa and Callisto emit plasma plumes, i.e., a contiguous body of ionospheric plasma, extended in the direction of the corotation flow, analogous to the plume of smoke emitted in the downwind direction from a smokestack. Such plumes were seen by Voyager 1 to be emitted by Titan. We find support for this proposition in published data from Galileo Plasma Science and Plasma Wave observations taken in the corotation wakes of both moons and from magnetometer measurements reported from near the orbit of, but away from, Europa itself. This lends credence to the hypothesis that the plumes escaping from the ionospheres of Europa and Callisto are wrapped around Jupiter by corotation, survive against dispersion for a fairly long time and are convected radially by magnetospheric motions. We present simple models of plume acceleration and compare the plumes of the Europa and Callisto to the known plumes of Titan.     

The Q Values of the Galilean Satellites and their Tidal Contributions to the Deceleration of Jupiter''''s Rotation

The relationship between the k2/Q of the Galilean satellites and the k2J/QJ of Jupiter is derived from energy and momentum considerations. Calculations suggest that the Galilean satellites can be divided into two classes according to their Q values: Io and Ganymede have values between 10 and 50, while Europa and Callisto have values ranging from 200 to 700. The tidal contributions of the Galilean satellites to Jupiter's rotation are estimated. The main deceleration of Jupiter, which is about 99.04% of the total, comes from Io.     

X-ray probes of magnetospheric interactions with Jupiter's auroral zones, the Galilean satellites, and the Io plasma torus

Remote observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton Observatory have shown that the jovian system is a source of X-rays with a rich and complicated structure. The planet's polar auroral zones and its disk are both powerful sources of X-ray emission. Chandra observations revealed X-ray emission from the Io plasma torus and from the Galilean moons Io, Europa, and possibly Ganymede. The emission from the moons is due to bombardment of their surfaces by highly energetic magnetospheric protons, and oxygen and sulfur ions. These ions excite atoms in their surfaces leading to fluorescent X-ray emission lines. These lines are produced against an intense background continuum, including bremsstrahlung radiation from surface interactions of primary magnetospheric and secondary electrons. Although the X-ray emission from the Galilean moons is faint when observed from Earth orbit, an imaging X-ray spectrometer in orbit around one or more of these moons, operating from 200 eV to 8 keV with 150 eV energy resolution, would provide a detailed mapping of the elemental composition in their surfaces. Surface resolution of 40 m for small features could be achieved in a 100-km orbit around one moon while also remotely imaging surfaces of other moons and Jupiter's upper atmosphere at maximum regional resolutions of hundreds of kilometers. Due to its relatively more benign magnetospheric radiation environment, its intrinsic interest as the largest moon in the Solar System, and its mini-magnetosphere, Ganymede would be the ideal orbital location for long-term observational studies of the jovian system. Here we describe the physical processes leading to X-ray emission from the surfaces of Jupiter's moons and the properties required for the technique of imaging X-ray spectroscopy to map the elemental composition of their surfaces, as well as studies of the X-ray emission from the planet's aurora and disk and from the Io plasma torus.     

Sulfurous acid (H2SO3) on Io?

Sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃) has never been characterized or isolated on Earth. This is caused by the unfavorable conditions for H₂SO₃ within Earth's atmosphere due to the high temperatures, the high water content and the oxidizing environment. Kinetic investigations by means of transition state theory showed that the half-life of H₂SO₃ at 300 K is 1 day but at 100 K it is increased to 2.7 billion years. Natural conditions to form H₂SO₃ presumably require cryogenic SO₂ or SO₂/H₂O mixtures and high energy proton irradiation at temperatures around 100 K. Such conditions can be found on the Jupiter moons Io and Europa. Therefore, we calculated IR-spectra of H₂SO₃ which we compared with Galileo's spectra of Io and Europa. From the available data we surmise that H₂SO₃ is present on Io and probably but to a smaller extent on Europa.     

Transfer of mass from Io to Europa and beyond due to cometary impacts

We simulate the production and orbital evolution of escaping ejecta due to cometary impacts on Io. The model includes the four Galilean satellites, Amalthea, Thebe, Jupiter's gravitational moments, Saturn and the Sun. Five scenarios are examined: an impact at the apex, the sub-jovian point, the anti-jovian point, the antapex, and at the south pole of Io. We estimate that on average a cometary impact injects thrice its mass (in the form of Io surface material) into jovicentric orbit. The majority of the escaping debris comes back to Io, but a sizeable fraction (between 5.0 and 8.7%) manages to reach Europa, and a smaller fraction Ganymede (between 1.5 and 4.6%). Smaller fractions reached Amalthea Thebe, Callisto, and Jupiter itself. For million year time scales, the mass transfer to Europa is estimated as 1.8-3.1×¹⁰¹⁴ g/Myr. The median time for transfer of ejecta from Io to Europa is ∼56 years.     

Interaction of the Galilean Moons with their plasma environments

The Galilean moons, especially Io, affect not just their local environment but also the Jovian ionosphere at the ends of the flux tubes connected to the moons. Moreover, the mass added to the magnetosphere by Io affects much of the rest of the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is energized by this mass-loading, powering the aurora, accelerating radiation belt particles, and generating radio emissions. This review examines how the mass-loading affects the magnetosphere and ionosphere; the differences in the interactions of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto; and some of the kinetic phenomena associated with the interaction.     

The variation of Io's auroral footprint brightness with the location of Io in the plasma torus

Ultraviolet and near-infrared observations of auroral emissions from the footprint of Io's magnetic Flux Tube (IFT) mapping to Jupiter's ionosphere have been interpreted via a combination of the unipolar inductor model [Goldreich, P., Lynden-Bell, D., 1969. Astrophys. J. 156, 59-78] and the multiply-reflected Alfvén wave model [Belcher, J.W., 1987. Science 238, 170-176]. While both models successfully explain the general nature of the auroral footprint and corotational wake, and both predict the presence of multiple footprints, the details of the interaction near Io are complicated [Saur, J., Neubauer, F.M., Connerney, J.E.P., Zarka, P., Kivelson, M.G., 2004. In: Bagenal, F., Dowling, T.E., McKinnon, W.B. (Eds.), Jupiter: The Planet, Satellites and Magnetosphere. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 537-560; Kivelson, M.G., Bagenal, F., Kurth, W.S., Neubauer, F.M., Paranicas, C., Saur, J., 2004. In: Bagenal, F., Dowling, T.E., McKinnon, W.B. (Eds.), Jupiter: The Planet, Satellites and Magnetosphere. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 513-536]. The auroral footprint brightness is believed to be a good remote indicator of the strength of the interaction near Io, indicating the energy and current strength linking Io with Jupiter's ionosphere. The brightness may also depend in part on local auroral acceleration processes near Jupiter. The relative importance of different physical processes in this interaction can be tested as Jupiter's rotation and Io's orbital motion shift Jupiter's magnetic centrifugal equator past Io, leading to longitudinal variations in the plasma density near Io and functionally different variations in the local field strength near Jupiter where the auroral emissions are produced. Initial HST WFPC2 observations found a high degree of variability in the footprint brightness with time, and some evidence for systematic variations with longitude [Clarke, J.T., Ben Jaffel, L., Gérard, J.-C., 1998. J. Geophys. Res. 103, 20217-20236], however the data were not of sufficient quality to determine functional relationships. In this paper we report the results from a second, more thorough study, using a series of higher resolution and sensitivity HST STIS observations and a model for the center to limb dependence of the optically thin auroral emission brightness based on measurements of the auroral curtain emission distribution with altitude. A search for correlations between numerous parameters has revealed a strong dependence between Io's position in the plasma torus and the resulting footprint brightness that persists over several years of observations. The local magnetic field strength near Jupiter (i.e. the size of the loss cone) and the expected north/south asymmetry in auroral brightness related to the path of currents generated near Io through the plasma torus en route to Jupiter appear to be less important than the total plasma density near Io. This is consistent with the near-Io interaction being dominated by collisions of corotating plasma and mass pickup, a long-standing view which has been subject to considerable debate. The brightness of the auroral footprint emissions, however, does not appear to be proportional to the incident plasma density or energy, and the interpretation of this result will require detailed modeling of the interaction near Io.     

Additions to the Theory of the Rotation of Europa

In a previous paper (The Rotation of Europa, Henrard, Celest. Mech. Dyn. Astr., 91, 131–149, 2005) we have developed a semi-analytical theory of Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. It is based on a synthetic theory of the orbit of Europa and is developed in the framework of Hamiltonian formalism. It was assumed that Europa is a rigid body and Jupiter a point mass. Several additional effects should be investigated in order to complete the theory. The present contribution considers the effect of the shape of Jupiter and of the gravitational pull of Io. The sensitivity of the main theory to a change in the values of the moments of inertia of Europa is also considered.     

Molecular dynamics estimates for the thermodynamic properties of the Fe–S liquid cores of the Moon,Io, Europa,and Ganymede

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is performed for the physical and chemical properties of solid and liquid Fe–S solutions using the embedded atom model (EAM) potential as applied to the internal structure of the Moon, Io, Europa, and Ganymede under the assumption that the satellites' cores can be described by a two-component iron–sulfur system. Calculated results are presented for the thermodynamic parameters including the caloric, thermal, and elastic properties (specific heat, thermal expansion, Grüneisen parameter, density, compression module, velocity of sound, and adiabatic gradient) of the Fe–S solutions at sulfur concentrations of 0–18 at %, temperatures of up to 2500 K, and pressures of up to 14 GPa. The velocity of sound, which increases as pressure rises, is weakly dependent on sulfur concentration and temperature. For the Moon’s outer Fe–S core (~5 GPa/2000 K), which contains 6–16 at % (3.5–10 wt %) sulfur, the density and the velocity of sound are estimated at 6.3–7.0 g/cm³ and 4000 ± 50 m/s, respectively. The MD calculations are compared with the interpretation of the Apollo observations (Weber et al., 2011) to show a good consistency of the velocity of P-waves in the Moon’s liquid core whereas the thermodynamic density of the Fe–S core is not consistent with the seismic models with ρ = 5.1–5.2 g/cm³ (Garcia et al., 2011; Weber et al., 2011). The revision the density values for the core leads to the revision of its size and mass. At sulfur concentrations of 3.5–10 wt %, the density of the Fe–S melt is 20–30% higher that the seismic density of the core. Therefore, the most likely radius of the Moon’s outer core must be less than 330 km (Weber et al., 2011) because, provided that the constraint on the Moon’s mass and moment of inertia is satisfied, an increase in the density of the core must lead to a reduction of its radius. For Jupiter’s Galilean moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede, constraints are obtained on the size, density, and sound velocity of the Fe–S liquid cores. The geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the internal structure of the Moon and Jupiter’s moons are compared. The calculations of the adiabatic gradient at the P–T conditions for the Fe–S cores of the Moon, Io, Europa, and Ganymede suggest the top-down crystallization of the core (Fe-snow scenario).     

Galilean satellites: 1976 radar results

Radar observations of the Galilean satellites, made in late 1976 using the 12.6-cm radar system of the Arecibo Observatory, have yielded mean geometric albedos of 0.04 ± , 0.69 ± 0.17, 0.37 ± 0.09, and 0.15 ± 0.04, for Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, respectively. The albedo for Io is about 40% smaller than that obtained approximately a year earlier, while the albedos for the outer three satellites average about 70% larger than the values previously reported for late 1975, raising the possibility of temporal variation. Very little dependence on orbital phase is noted; however, some regional scattering inhomogeneities are seen on the outer three satellites. For Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, the ratios of the echo received in one mode of circular polarization to that received in the other were: 1.61 ± 0.20 1.48 ± 0.27, and 1.24 ± 0.19, respectively, with the dominant component having the same sence of circularity as that transmitted. This behavior has not previously been encountered in radar studies of solar system objects, whereas the corresponding observations with linear polarization are “normal.” Radii determined from the 1976 radar data for Europa and Ganymede are: 1530 ± 30 and 2670 ± 50 km, in fair agreement with the results from the 1975 radar observations and the best recent optical determinations. Doppler shifts of the radar echoes, useful for the improvement of the orbits of Jupiter and some of the Galilean satellites, are given for 12 nights in 1976 and 10 nights in 1975.     

Secondary and sesquinary craters on Europa

We address impact cratering on Io and Europa, with the emphasis on the origin of small craters on Europa as secondary to the primary impacts of comets on Io, Europa, and Ganymede. In passing we also address the origin of secondary craters generated by Zunil, a well-studied impact crater on Mars that is a plausible analog to impact craters on Io. At nominal impact rates, and taking volcanic resurfacing into account, we find that there should be 1.3 impact craters on Io, equally likely to be of any diameter between 100 m and 20 km. The corresponding model age of Europa's surface is between 60 and 100 Ma. This range of ages does not include a factor three uncertainty stemming from the uncertain sizes and numbers of comets. The mass of basaltic impact ejecta from Io to reach Europa is found to meet or exceed the micrometeoroid flux as a source of rock-forming elements to Europa's ice crust. To describe impact ejecta in more detail we adapt models for impact-generated spalls and Grady-Kipp fragments originally developed by Melosh. Our model successfully reproduces the observed size-number distributions of small craters on both Mars and Europa. However, the model predicts that a significant fraction of the 200-500 m diameter craters on Europa are not traditional secondary craters but are instead sesquinary craters caused by impact ejecta from Io that had gone into orbit about Jupiter. This prediction is not supported by observation, which implies that high speed spalls usually break up into smaller fragments that make smaller sesquinary craters. Iogenic basalts are also interesting because they provide stratigraphic horizons on Europa that in principle could be used to track historic motions of the ice, and they provide materials suitable to radiometric dating of Europa's surface.     

New observations of surface markings on Jupiter's satellites

Visual and photographic observations of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter made in September 1973 with the 108 cm reflector at Pic-du-Midi Observatory are presented. A method of estimating the contrasts and albedos of surface markings on the satellites during transit by comparing them with the adjacent surface of Jupiter is described. Results for Io, Europa, and Ganymede give albedo ranges of 0.28 to 0.67, 0.45 to 0.67, and 0.22 to 0.47, respectively. These are geometric albedos for a phase angle of 5°. The percentages of the disks covered by high albedos are consistent with the conclusions of previous workers regarding the fraction of exposed water ice on the surface.