Collaborative Research: Characterizing the Galilean satellite (sub)surfaces from radio observations

木卫一、木卫二、木卫三和木卫四这四颗伽利略卫星共同提供了一个实验室，用于研究内部因素和外部因素对我们今天所看到的太阳系卫星表面的影响。该项目将利用工作在射电波长的望远镜所作的观测，确定四颗伽利略卫星的表面特征。以同样的方式观察所有目标，可以在它们之间进行直接比较。这表明了每个卫星的独特特征，如木卫三的磁场或木卫一的高内部加热，是如何影响其表面的。该方案还将举办讲习班，培训学生进行有效的公共沟通和创建外联内容。这项培训将使学生能够在公共科学活动中展示他们自己的博士主题。该项目将描述四颗伽利略卫星的热物理表面特性，以及它们在这些卫星表面上的变化情况，从而限制半球尺度的变化，并查明和解释局部热异常。伽利略卫星呈现了一系列内部热流，从强大的潮汐加热和木卫一的火山活动穿过卡利斯托凹凸不平的表面，相应地记录了不同时期的表面特征。该项目将利用多波长数据集(微米到厘米，重点是最近的ALMA和VLA数据)，以便提供低至半米深度范围内的表面视图。通过将复杂的热物理模型应用于空间解析的数据，该项目可以隔离特定的纬度、经度和地质地形，并调查材料特性(以及潜在的热流)如何与地表位置和地形类型相关。由此得到的温度和密度的3D(纬度、经度、深度)图将有助于解释这些卫星在局部和全球范围内的作用过程。这项研究的结果是及时的，因为早期的JWST数据，以及来自NASA欧罗巴快艇和欧空局果汁任务的即将到来的数据，将提供伽利略卫星表面在互补热波长的视图。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The four Galilean moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – together provide a laboratory for studying what effect internal vs. external factors have on the surfaces we see today on Solar System moons. This project will characterize the surfaces of the four Galilean satellites using observations from telescopes operating at radio wavelengths. Observing all targets in the same way allows for a direct comparison between them. This shows how the unique characteristics of each moon, such as Ganymede’s magnetic field or Io’s high internal heating, affect its surface. The program will also develop workshops to train students in effective public communication and the creation of outreach content. This training will enable the students to showcase their own PhD topics at public science events. This project will characterize the thermophysical surface properties of the four Galilean satellites and how they vary across these satellites’ surfaces, constraining hemisphere-scale variations and identifying and interpreting localized thermal anomalies. The galilean moons present a range of internal heat flows, from the powerful tidal heating and volcanism of Io through the cratered, inactive surface of Callisto, and correspondingly hold records of different time periods in their surface features. The project will make use of multi-wavelength datasets (microns to centimeters, with an emphasis on recent ALMA and VLA data) in order to provide views of the surface at a range of depths down to half a meter. By applying sophisticated thermophysical models to spatially resolved data, the project can isolate specific latitudes, longitudes, and geological terrains and investigate how material properties (and potentially heat flow) correlate with surface location and terrain type. The resultant 3D (latitude, longitude, depth) maps of temperature and density will aid in the interpretation of the processes at work on these moons both locally and globally. The results of this study are timely because early JWST data, as well as upcoming data from the NASA Europa Clipper and ESA JUICE missions, will provide views of the galilean satellite surfaces at complementary thermal wavelengths.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.