NASA’s Juno spacecraft has captured stunning images of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, providing new insights into its tortured surface. The spacecraft made close flybys in late 2023 and early 2024, revealing hot lava flows and fresh lava streams on the moon’s surface.
Recent observations by Juno’s Stellar Reference Unit camera show active lava breakouts and a giant lava flow called Tonatiuh, which stretches 98 miles long and 11 miles wide. The images, taken just 932 miles above Io, are the highest-resolution views of the moon to date.
Io’s unique volcanic landscape is the result of its gravitational tug-of-war with nearby objects, including Jupiter and its moons Europa and Ganymede. However, new observations suggest that Io may not have a global magma ocean beneath its surface, but rather each volcano has its own chamber of magma.
The Juno mission has provided scientists with deeper insights into Io’s volcanic workings, shedding light on this extreme and constantly evolving moon. The stunning images will help researchers better understand the complex geology of Io and its place in our solar system.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/nasa-io-volcano-lava-image-juno-spacecraft