Infrared mapping tech aboard the spacecraft sheds light on the volcanic activity of Io, Jupiter's second-smallest moon
It’s not a big moon relative to some of its neighbors, but Jupiter’s Io is exceedingly active, with volcanoes by the hundreds spewing lava plumes dozens of miles above its surface, per NASA. Infrared tech aboard the space agency’s Juno probe mapped two such eruptions in February, returning valuable data on the mysterious happenings beneath Io’s surface. Researchers shared their insights on the matter in a paper published last week.
Io is about a quarter the size of Earth by diameter, and just a bit bigger than Earth’s moon. “In the region of Io’s surface in which we have the most complete data, we estimate about 3% of it is covered by one of these molten lava lakes,” said Mura. Juno’s JIRAM tool came via Italy’s space agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana.
Juno Agenzia Spaziale Italiana Environment Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper Volcano Alessandro Mura Caldera Volcanism Igneous Rocks Io Volcanism On Io Lava Lake Loki Patera Gizmodo
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