Tara Regio Archives

Qualitative projections of the best-fit three-dimensional spherical-harmonic model to the jointly decomposed first spatial mode, u(1), derived from three viewing geometries of Europa’s leading hemisphere. (e) Water-ice 3.1 µm Fresnel peak (ℓmax = 6). (g) CO2 absorption doublet near 4.25 µm (ℓmax = 7). Shaded outlines mark Tara, Powys, and the leading-hemisphere part of Annwn Regiones. The left panels show jointly decomposed spectral modes (v(0) and v(1) in gray and black, respectively) and spectra from the spaxels where the joint spatial mode peaks (blue) and reaches its minimum (red). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Europa, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Status Report

Spectral Decomposition Reveals Surface Processes on Europa

by Keith CowingMarch 16, 2026March 16, 2026

Competing processes shape Europa’s surface: geological activity replenishes material through resurfacing, while bombardment by charged particles alters surface chemical composition. Each process leaves distinct spectral signatures.

Experiments led by Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Ujjwal Raut have produced evidence to support spectral data recently collected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) showing that the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa is constantly changing. - SWRI

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Uncovering Ongoing Surface Modification On Europa

by Keith CowingMay 28, 2025

The JWST shows that ice on Europa is developing at different rates in different places, such as Tara Regio, where crystalline ice (lighter colors) is found on the surface as […]