The newest image from NASA's Juno mission depicts one of Jupiter's moons, Io , revealing the volcanoes that cover its surface and power Jupiter's auroras.
It's worth noting that Io is the most volcanically active world in our solar system. There are hundreds of volcanoes surrounding the moon's crust, which is filled with molten sulfur. Some of these volcanoes can shoot lava dozens of miles above the surface. In the new image, taken on July 5 but released the day before yesterday, the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) on NASA's Juno spacecraft took a striking photo of the moon. Areas with high temperatures appear brighter.
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Scientists from the University of Leicester discovered earlier this year that volcanoes on Io contribute to auroras near Jupiter's poles, as published in their research paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. In their detailed paper, co-authors Jonathan Nichols and Stan Cowley used data from Juno and explained that volcanic emissions from Io travel along Jupiter's magnetic field towards the planet, where they then create auroras.
Surprisingly, scientists discovered more volcanic sites in the polar regions than in the region near the planet's equator.
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NASA's Juno spacecraft originally launched in 2011 and took five years to finally reach Jupiter. During its journey, Juno made 35 orbits of Jupiter (each lasting about 53 days), collecting a large amount of data about the planet's atmosphere and interior. NASA extended the mission in 2018, with another extension added in 2021. The new scheduled completion date is set for September 2025.
“ The team is really excited that Juno’s extended mission includes studying Jupiter’s moons. With each close flyby, we’re getting a wealth of new information ,” Scott Bolton said in a NASA announcement. Mr. Bolton is the principal investigator for Juno at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. “ Juno’s sensors are designed to study Jupiter, but we’re excited about how well they can do double duty by also observing the ’s moons planet ,” the expert said.
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Regarding the new Juno photo showing Io with its volcanoes, Mr Bolton said: “You can see volcanic vents. We were able to watch during the main mission how these change and evolve.”
It's no coincidence that NASA is putting a spotlight on Io. From its mysterious atmosphere to its dynamic volcanoes, Jupiter's moon Io offers scientists a unique opportunity to explore a world unlike any other in solar system. Its unique combination of volcanoes and extreme tidal forces make it one of the most intriguing moons in our solar system.
Source: gizmodo.com
