Behold! Europa, Jupiter's Ocean Moon, has been Visible to Us for 22 Years.

Space

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[{"selector":"#anim-1426cb47-084a-4a92-86ce-fbaf73d859cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c411cc7-60da-44d1-8c97-5bc080a0e621","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 293.45504%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f9b5a36-ba1f-4b6f-b42a-80f0532d1fac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(48.240624903917634%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A rare up-close view of an icy world has been captured by NASA's Jupiter-observing probe

[{"selector":"#anim-1989c0f6-7c51-4227-a197-b96eb710dff5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d270045b-4b3b-482d-b52d-1b77b907864b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 218.59404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb70cb43-6027-4340-bf75-b9eac569dca6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-50.416666552892394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] On Thursday, the Juno spacecraft made its first close approach to Jupiter's ice moon Europa in 22 years (Sept. 29)

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[{"selector":"#anim-2eff9dac-1d38-460e-b07d-2f7475746253","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ccf56eff-2684-4ef2-964d-71fb3c0562ab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.11622%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a091676-69bc-4c8c-a640-7df38cca7ef3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-57.157985985011294%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The primary scientific objective of Europa Clipper is to ascertain whether there are any potential habitats for life beneath Europa's surface. Europa Clipper will examine the Moon's atmosphere, surface, and interior

[{"selector":"#anim-f91c9d54-f605-4bc7-aa44-d0e73a09b226","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d57b96b7-2502-4807-b284-a4671a879b68","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 293.45504%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7502b09b-f7b4-4d6d-a2e0-ac236f7349e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-51.23046865400296%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Europa is comparable in size to Earth's moon and is the sixth biggest moon in the Solar System

[{"selector":"#anim-07da645c-3ce8-48f9-a302-f0b5541f62f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc630b4e-03d0-4cf6-8305-974a131526f5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 218.59404%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd23c3a3-6be3-4e4b-a853-78a1a230fcc8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.53515615400295%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] If the mission is able to survive the harsh radiation belt near Jupiter, flybys of the eruptive Jovian moon Io are anticipated in 2023 and 2024