Jupiter, Europa, Thebe, and Metis (NIRCam) Commissioning Image

Left - Jupiter (center), and its moons Europa, Thebe, and Metis are seen through the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument 2.12 micron filter. 

The Great Red Spot appears yellow because of the way the infrared image was processed. 

Right - Jupiter and its moons Europa, Thebe, and Metis are seen through NIRCam’s 3.23 micron filter. 

Scientists were especially eager to see these commissioning images because they are proof that Webb can observe the satellites and rings near bright solar system objects such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. Scientists will use Webb to explore the tantalizing question of whether we can see plumes of material spewing out of moons like Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Webb may be able to see the signatures of plumes depositing material on the surface on Europa.