Astronomy

Hydrogen peroxide found on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede in higher latitudes

July 24, 2023

Maps of Ganymede’s 3.5 μm H₂O₂ absorption in comparison with these of the three.1 μm Fresnel peaks of water ice and corresponding projections of the U.S. Geological Survey Voyager–Galileo imaging mosaic. H₂O₂ seems constrained to the higher latitudes, notably on the main hemisphere, which displays sharp boundaries at roughly ±30° to 35° latitude. These boundaries are roughly coincident with the onset of Ganymede’s polar frost caps and with the latitudes at which many of the impinging Jovian magnetospheric particles can entry the floor. Maps of the Fresnel reflection peak of water ice, which typically monitor the distribution of ice deduced from shorter-wavelength water bands, additionally present the areas of best H₂O₂ on the main hemisphere to be enriched in water ice. The trailing hemisphere exhibits comparatively weak Fresnel reflections and, general, less-icy spectra. This hemispheric dichotomy in water ice might assist clarify the main/trailing distinction in H₂O₂, whereas the general polar H₂O₂ distribution might replicate a mixture of precursor water availability and temperature and/or radiation depth results. The approximate common boundary between open and closed area traces from are included as purple dashed traces. The 60°S, 30°S, 0°N, 30°N, and 60°N parallels are additionally included in grey for each hemispheres. The leading-hemisphere map consists of the 45°W, 90°W, and 135°W meridians, whereas the trailing-hemisphere map exhibits these for 225°W, 270°W, and 315°W. Credit score: Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3724

A global workforce of space scientists has discovered proof that hydrogen peroxide on Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, exists solely on its larger latitudes. For his or her analysis, reported within the journal Science Advances, the group studied information from the James Webb Area Telescope (JWST).

For a few years, researchers theorized that hydrogen peroxide existed on Ganymede, however it took a previous workforce finding out information from the JWST to search out it. On this new effort, the analysis workforce analyzed new information despatched again by the telescope to be taught extra in regards to the surface of the moon and its hydrogen peroxide.

Ganymede is the most important moon within the solar system, however it has not obtained practically the eye given to a different of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, whose options and traits make it much more more likely to have harbored life in some unspecified time in the future in time. However prior analysis has proven that the affect of Jupiter’s magnetic area on a lot of its moons may point out a powerful chance of hydrogen peroxide on Ganymede. That is due to its seemingly influence on the water-ice irradiation course of on its floor.

Prior analysis has proven that each Ganymede and Europa are impacted by radiation from Jupiter’s magnetosphere—it bombards the floor of each moons, changing water ice into different compounds equivalent to oxygen, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. On this new effort, the researchers studied information from the JWST NIRSpec Integral Discipline Unit.

The workforce discovered a 3.5-micrometer absorption band displaying the presence of hydrogen peroxide within the northern elements of the moon, totally on the facet dealing with directional orbit. In addition they noticed oxygen principally seen in decrease latitudes and on the other facet of the moon. The findings present a stark distinction between Ganymede and Europa—on Europa, most of its hydrogen peroxide is positioned close to its equator.

The workforce notes that their findings are half of a bigger course of geared towards higher understanding how Ganymede’s magnetic field influences its personal floor chemistry.

Extra info:
Samantha Okay. Trumbo et al, Hydrogen peroxide on the poles of Ganymede, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3724

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Hydrogen peroxide discovered on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede in larger latitudes (2023, July 24)
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