---
title: "James Webb Picture of Jupiter So Crisp You Can See Its Moon Europa"
description: "NASA has released stunning new images of Jupiter and its moon Europa, taken by its groundbreaking new James Webb Space Telescope."
date: "2022-07-15"
modified: "2022-07-15"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-webb-picture-jupiter-moon-europa"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "James Webb Space Telescope"
  - "Moon"
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "europa"
  - "james webb space telescope"
  - "jupiter"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
---

# James Webb Picture of Jupiter So Crisp You Can See Its Moon Europa

![NASA has released stunning new images of Jupiter and its moon Europa, taken by its groundbreaking new James Webb Space Telescope.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/james-webb-picture-jupiter-moon-europa.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA\</em\>*

## Jupiter So Bright

NASA has [released stunning new images](<https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/07/14/webb-images-of-jupiter-and-more-now-available-in-commissioning-data/>) of Jupiter, taken by its groundbreaking new James Webb Space Telescope.

One new infrared image of the gas giant is so detailed, the telescope even managed to get Jupiter's moon Europa in the frame.

The shots are also notable for what they represent: that the new telescope could be capable of such detailed observations that they could answer some of the biggest questions we have about Europa and other similar moons in our own solar system.

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1547686542189047808

## Tiny Moon

For instance, the Webb could find out once and for all if [plumes are venting water vapor](<https://www.universetoday.com/153533/if-there-are-water-plumes-on-europa-heres-how-europa-clipper-will-study-them/>) from Europa's suspected subsurface oceans.

That's an exciting prospect to scientists working on the project. For one, that could bring us one big step closer to finding out if the tiny moon [could harbor life](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/jupiter-moon-europa-more-habitable>).

"I think that’s just one of the coolest things that we’ll be able to do with this telescope in the solar system," said Stefanie Milam, Webb’s deputy project scientist at NASA, in [a statement](<https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/07/14/webb-images-of-jupiter-and-more-now-available-in-commissioning-data/>).

Scientists were also able to figure out Webb is capable of tracking objects that move more than twice the expected baseline, which is "similar to photographing a turtle crawling when you’re standing a mile away," according to NASA.

## Cosmic Backyard

The images were taken before science operations officially kicked off on Tuesday and are a testament to the JWST's full potential and incredible range.

"Combined with the deep field images released the other day, these images of Jupiter demonstrate the full grasp of what Webb can observe, from the faintest, most distant observable galaxies to planets in our own cosmic backyard that you can see with the naked eye from your actual backyard," said Bryan Holler, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in the statement.

It's one hell of a start for the $10 billion space observatory, which has been in active development for decades. And we can't wait to see its next Solar System targets in their full, extremely bright glory.

**READ MORE:** [Webb Images of Jupiter and More Now Available In Commissioning Data](<https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/07/14/webb-images-of-jupiter-and-more-now-available-in-commissioning-data/>) \[NASA\]

**More on the images:** *[The Webb Telescope Just Quietly Released a Picture of Jupiter](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/webb-telescope-jupiter>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)