NASA’s Europa Clipper captured infrared images of the Red Planet

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Introduction:

The news topic “NASA’s Europa Clipper captured infrared images of the Red Planet” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.

Quick Summary:

• NASA’s Europa Clipper recently captured infrared images of Mars to fine-tune its thermal imaging system. Thermal imaging will map surface temperatures, revealing active areas and helping scientists locate the closest subsurface ocean. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will complete 49 close flybys to study Europa’s hidden ocean and assess its potential for life. The Europa Thermal Imaging System (E-THEMIS) captured one image per second, producing over a thousand grayscale pictures. Starting May 5, scientists sent the pictures to Earth. They then compiled the images into a global snapshot, adding color—red for warm areas and blue for cold. Warm colors represent relatively warm temperatures; red areas are about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and purple regions are about minus 190 F (minus 125 C)
• Europa Clipper, en route to the Jupiter system to investigate the icy moon Europa, swung by Mars on March 1, 2025, to use the planet’s gravity to help shape the spacecraft’s trajectory. The mission took the opportunity to capture to capture infrared images of the Red Planet using the orbiter’s Europa Thermal Imaging System (E-THEMIS) to calibrate the instrument. Bright regions are relatively warm, with temperatures of about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) Darker areas are colder. The darkest region at the top is the northern polar cap and is about minus 190 F (minus 125 C) The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet. The main science goal is to determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life.
• Europa Clipper swung by Mars on March 1, 2025, to use the planet’s gravity to help shape the spacecraft’s trajectory. The mission took the opportunity to capture to capture infrared images of the Red Planet using the orbiter’s Europa Thermal Imaging System. The instrument captured the image data in long-wave infrared wavelengths of about 7 to 14 micrometers. The Europa Clipper launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 14, 2024, and will arrive at the Jupiter system in 2030 to conduct about 50 flybys of Europa. The main science goal is to determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life. It will also investigate the thickness of the icy shell and its surface interactions with the ocean below.

Country-by-Country Breakdown:

Original Coverage

NASA’s Europa Clipper recently captured infrared images of Mars to fine-tune its thermal imaging system. Thermal imaging will map surface temperatures, revealing active areas and helping scientists locate the closest subsurface ocean. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will complete 49 close flybys to study Europa’s hidden ocean and assess its potential for life. The Europa Thermal Imaging System (E-THEMIS) captured one image per second, producing over a thousand grayscale pictures. Starting May 5, scientists sent the pictures to Earth. They then compiled the images into a global snapshot, adding color—red for warm areas and blue for cold. Warm colors represent relatively warm temperatures; red areas are about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and purple regions are about minus 190 F (minus 125 C) Read full article

Mars in Infrared, Captured by NASA’s Europa Clipper

Europa Clipper, en route to the Jupiter system to investigate the icy moon Europa, swung by Mars on March 1, 2025, to use the planet’s gravity to help shape the spacecraft’s trajectory. The mission took the opportunity to capture to capture infrared images of the Red Planet using the orbiter’s Europa Thermal Imaging System (E-THEMIS) to calibrate the instrument. Bright regions are relatively warm, with temperatures of about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) Darker areas are colder. The darkest region at the top is the northern polar cap and is about minus 190 F (minus 125 C) The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet. The main science goal is to determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life. Read full article

Europa Clipper Captures Infrared Image of Mars (Color Added)

Europa Clipper swung by Mars on March 1, 2025, to use the planet’s gravity to help shape the spacecraft’s trajectory. The mission took the opportunity to capture to capture infrared images of the Red Planet using the orbiter’s Europa Thermal Imaging System. The instrument captured the image data in long-wave infrared wavelengths of about 7 to 14 micrometers. The Europa Clipper launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 14, 2024, and will arrive at the Jupiter system in 2030 to conduct about 50 flybys of Europa. The main science goal is to determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life. It will also investigate the thickness of the icy shell and its surface interactions with the ocean below. Read full article

NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Thermal Views of Mars

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft flew past Mars on March 1. The thousands of grayscale images it obtained weren’t transmitted to Earth until May 5. The E-THEMIS team was able ascertain hotter and cooler places across the entire surface of Mars. The spacecraft is slated to arrive at the Jupiter system in April 2030 with the goal of ascertaining the potential habitability of Europa while accomplishing dozens of elongated flybys of the small moon. The Europa Thermal Imaging System instrument will measure the temperature of fractures and ridges that crisscross and cover almost the entire moon’s surface. Understanding heat patterns near these locations could provide scientists with insight into the depth of the liquid ocean that resides beneath the icy surface of Europa. The mission is scheduled to launch in October 2024 and arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Read full article

Europa Clipper spacecraft snaps cool thermal images of Mars

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft is currently on its way to Jupiter’s icy moon of Europa. The spacecraft was using the gravity of Mars to get a boost along its journey, but while doing so there was also an opportunity to do some testing. The team tested out one of Clipper’s instruments, an infrared camera called the Europa Thermal Imaging System (E-THEMIS), by snapping some images of Mars on the way past. One thousand grayscale images were captured, and these were stacked together to create a color composite showing temperature. The camera will be used to study parts of the surface of Europa which are covered in ridges and fractures, thought to be caused by water rising up from the subsurface ocean and breaking through the icy crust. If Europa is a really active place, those fractures will be warmer than the surrounding ice where the ocean comes close to the surface. Read full article

NASA’s Europa Clipper snaps infrared image of Mars, thanks to ASU instrument

The Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System is designed to detect temperature variations on Europa’s icy surface. These measurements will help scientists pinpoint active areas, understand the moon’s geology and determine where a global subsurface ocean might lie closest to the surface. During the flyby, E-THEMIS collected more than 1,000 infrared images over 18 minutes — one every second — which were then downlinked to Earth beginning on May 5. The images, which are enhanced from the grayscale pictures with familiar shading or color cues (bright or reds for warmth; dark or blues for cold), will be cross-checked with decades of existing Mars observations to confirm E- THEMIS is performing with precision. The mission is scheduled to land on Europa in July 2016, and then move on to another moon in 2018. Read full article

NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars In Infrared

NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument so they can be sure it’s operating correctly. The mission’s sights are set on Jupiter’s moon Europa and the global ocean hidden under its icy surface. A year after slipping into orbit around Jupiter, the spacecraft will begin a series of 49 close flybys of the moon to investigate whether it holds conditions suitable for life. The imaging will reveal how much heat is being emitted from the moon; warmer areas of the ice give off more energy and indicate recent activity. It will also tell scientists where the ocean is closest to the surface and how active the surface is. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the Jupiter system in 2030 and will orbit the moon for a year before returning to Earth. Read full article

Global Perspectives Summary:

Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.

How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.

Sources:

• Original Article
• Mars in Infrared, Captured by NASA’s Europa Clipper
• Europa Clipper Captures Infrared Image of Mars (Color Added)
• NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Thermal Views of Mars
• Europa Clipper spacecraft snaps cool thermal images of Mars
• NASA’s Europa Clipper snaps infrared image of Mars, thanks to ASU instrument
• NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars In Infrared

Source: https://www.techexplorist.com/nasa-europa-clipper-captured-infrared-images-red-planet/99356/