Title: NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission: On the Way to Explore Ocean World Habitability

Dr. Robert Pappalardo, Project Scientist for the Europa Clipper Mission, gives this month’s featured talk. In his words: “On October 14, 2024, NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft launched on its journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa, an icy world believed to harbor a global subsurface ocean. Observations from the Galileo mission revealed Europa to have a relatively young and deformed ice surface. An induced magnetic field implies the presence of a salty ocean beneath the ice. Tidal forces from Jupiter fracture the ice shell into ridges, bands, and chaotic terrains, suggesting ice mobility and possible local melting. Earth- and space-based telescopes suggest the presence of plumes that may vent interior water vapor into space. Europa may contain the key ingredients necessary for life—liquid water, bioessential elements, chemical energy, and long-term stability—making it a compelling target for investigation of ocean world habitability.

The Europa Clipper mission will address Europa’s habitability using an advanced suite of remote-sensing and in-situ instruments that probe the moon’s interior, composition, and geology, while also searching for present-day activity such as plumes. During its 5.5-year cruise to Jupiter, the mission is maturing operations concepts and validating instrument performance, including through flyby observations of Mars, Earth, and interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. After entering Jupiter orbit in 2030, the spacecraft will execute 49 close encounters with Europa at altitudes of typically 25–100 km above the surface, enabling unprecedented observations of this ocean world.”

Dr. Pappalardo’s presentation will summarize our current understanding of Europa, describe how Europa Clipper is designed to investigate its habitability, and provide an update on mission status as the spacecraft continues its journey to the Jovian system.

Presenter: Robert Pappalardo

Robert Pappalardo is a JPL Fellow and Senior Research Scientist, and the Project Scientist for NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. He has also served as the Project Scientist for the first extended mission of the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn, for which he received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal. He received his B.A. in Geological Sciences from Cornell University in 1986, and he obtained his Ph.D. in Geology from Arizona State University in 1994. His research focuses on processes that have shaped the icy satellites of the outer solar system, especially Europa and the role of its probable subsurface ocean. He has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed journal papers and book chapters, and he served as the chief editor of the University of Arizona Press book Europa. Through the years, Pappalardo has mentored students and post-docs, and he has worked with various science museums and organizations to bring the excitement of astronomy and planetary exploration to the public.

Photo Caption: Dr. Robert Pappalardo, Project Scientist for NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission

Photo Credit: Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Lab

Title:  Various astronomy events that will be occurring

Presenter:  Connor Justice

To start the new year, Connor Justice will be highlighting various astronomy events that will be occurring throughout the year such as eclipses, meteor showers, and planetary alignments. 

Title: TAAA Astro-Imaging Special Interest Group (AISIG)

Presenter: Jeff Rothstein

The Astro-Imaging SIG (AISIG) seeks to advance the skills of all who image the night sky, from beginners to veterans. Jeff Rothstein will describe the many activities of the AISIG, including monthly meetings that have included topics like the new smart telescopes; Astronomical League programs for imagers; and how to cull frames before integrating them. He will also describe a recent imaging contest and a planned meetup at CAC next spring. He’ll also be sharing some of the group’s images.

Meetings are held monthly on the third Monday of each month from 7-8:30 MST. YouTube videos of the meetings can be viewed afterward. All members of TAAA are welcome to attend.

Title: TAAA Radio Astronomy Special Interest Group (RASIG)

Presenter: Gary Steffens

The RASIG was formed in June 2025 to provide TAAA members with the opportunity to pursue interests in radio astronomy. Gary Steffens will introduce this newest SIG offering available to all TAAA members.
The stated objectives of the RASIG are:
Learn about the history of radio astronomy
Assist members in pursuing Radio Astronomy observing through discussion and development of skills and equipment.
Assist members in building a small personal radio telescope.
Expand radio astronomy observing through outreach events.

Meetings are held monthly on the third Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30 MST. YouTube videos of the meetings can be viewed afterward. All members of TAAA are welcome to attend.