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Io

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Juno Spots Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet
space29 days ago

Juno Spots Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet

NASA's Juno spacecraft captured what scientists describe as the solar system's most energetic eruption observed on Io, with multiple volcanoes lighting up simultaneously from a vast subterranean magma network. The Dec. 27, 2024 event, spotted by JIRAM during a flyby about 74,400 km above Io, released an estimated 140–260 terawatts of power and covered about 40,400 square miles (65,000 sq km). Io harbors around 400 active volcanoes driven by Jupiter's tidal forces. The synchronized eruption suggests interconnected magma reservoirs beneath Io's lava-encrusted surface, and future Io flybys will map new lava flows and ash deposits.

Io Unleashes Solar System’s Most Powerful Volcanic Outburst, NASA Finds
space1 month ago

Io Unleashes Solar System’s Most Powerful Volcanic Outburst, NASA Finds

NASA’s Juno spacecraft detected the solar system’s most energetic eruption on Io—a 40,000-square-mile hotspot in the moon’s southern hemisphere emitting well over 80 trillion watts from multiple simultaneous sources, suggesting a vast interconnected magma system; observed by JIRAM during the December 27, 2024 flyby with visible surface changes near Io’s south pole, and researchers plan a March 3 flyby recheck.

Webb Telescope Reveals Intense Volcanic Activity on Jupiter’s Moon Io
science3 months ago

Webb Telescope Reveals Intense Volcanic Activity on Jupiter’s Moon Io

Scientists using NASA's Juno data have found that Jupiter's moon Io is emitting hundreds of times more heat than previously estimated, mainly from localized volcanic sources, challenging the idea of a global magma ocean beneath its surface. This new understanding results from analyzing different infrared spectral data, revealing that Io's volcanoes have hot outer rings and cooler centers, which significantly increases the estimated heat flux. The findings suggest that previous models based solely on certain infrared bands may have underestimated Io's thermal output, but do not definitively rule out the existence of a magma ocean. Future missions may provide more detailed insights into Io's intense volcanism.

Juno Mission Reveals Source of Io's Volcanic Eruptions
science1 year ago

Juno Mission Reveals Source of Io's Volcanic Eruptions

NASA scientists have discovered that Io, Jupiter's most volcanically active moon, is fueled by individual magma chambers rather than a single massive magma ocean. This finding, based on data from the Juno spacecraft's close flybys, challenges previous assumptions about Io's volcanic activity and has implications for understanding other celestial bodies. The study highlights the role of tidal flexing, caused by Jupiter's gravitational pull, in generating heat and volcanic activity on Io.

Juno Mission Challenges Understanding of Io's Volcanic Activity
science1 year ago

Juno Mission Challenges Understanding of Io's Volcanic Activity

NASA's Juno mission has revealed that the volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io are powered by individual magma chambers rather than a global magma ocean, solving a long-standing mystery about Io's volcanic activity. This discovery, based on data from Juno's close flybys, suggests that tidal flexing from Jupiter's gravitational pull generates internal heat, melting parts of Io's interior. The findings have broader implications for understanding other celestial bodies, including moons like Enceladus and Europa, as well as exoplanets.

Earth-Based Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io
science-and-technology1 year ago

Earth-Based Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io

An international team led by the University of Arizona has captured the highest-resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io ever taken from Earth using the Large Binocular Telescope's new SHARK-VIS instrument. These images, revealing surface features as small as 80 km, provide unprecedented detail of Io's volcanic activity, including a major resurfacing event around the volcano Pele. This achievement demonstrates the potential of ground-based telescopes to observe solar system bodies with clarity previously reserved for spacecraft.

Earth-Based Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Volcanic Moon Io
space1 year ago

Earth-Based Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Volcanic Moon Io

Scientists using the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona have captured highly detailed images of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io, revealing intricate lava trails and surface changes. The new SHARK-VIS camera allows Earth-based telescopes to achieve a resolution previously possible only with spacecraft, highlighting features as small as 50 miles wide. The images show overlapping lava deposits from the active volcanoes Pele and Pillan Patera, providing insights into Io's volcanic activity and surface evolution.

Stunning Earth-Based Images of Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io Rival Spacecraft Photos
science-and-technology1 year ago

Stunning Earth-Based Images of Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io Rival Spacecraft Photos

The Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham, Arizona, has captured the highest resolution Earth-based image of Io, Jupiter's most volcanic moon. The image, taken with the SHARK-VIS instrument, reveals detailed features such as the volcano Pele and changes in the surface due to lava deposits. This breakthrough in Earth-based imaging was made possible by the telescope's advanced adaptive optics system.

"New Telescope Tech Reveals Sharp Images of Volcanic Moon Io"
astronomy1 year ago

"New Telescope Tech Reveals Sharp Images of Volcanic Moon Io"

Astronomers have captured the highest resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io using the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona. These images reveal unprecedented details of Io's volcanic activity, including a major resurfacing event around the volcano Pele. This technological advancement allows Earth-based telescopes to achieve spatial resolutions previously possible only with spacecraft, enhancing our understanding of volcanic processes in the solar system.

Earth Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Volcanic Moon Io
science-and-technology1 year ago

Earth Telescope Captures Stunning Images of Volcanic Moon Io

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona has captured the highest-resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io ever taken by a ground-based telescope, revealing surface features as small as 80 km. These images, made possible by the LBT's new SHARK-VIS instrument and adaptive optics, show detailed volcanic activity and resurfacing events, providing insights into Io's intense volcanism and tidal heating mechanisms. This breakthrough allows Earth-based observatories to observe planetary surfaces with unprecedented clarity, previously achievable only by spacecraft.

"Earth Telescope Captures Stunning New Images of Volcanic Moon Io"
science-and-technology1 year ago

"Earth Telescope Captures Stunning New Images of Volcanic Moon Io"

The Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona has captured the highest resolution Earth-based images of Jupiter's moon Io, revealing surface features as small as 50 miles across. Using the SHARK-VIS instrument and adaptive optics, researchers identified a major resurfacing event around the volcano Pele. These observations provide new insights into Io's intense volcanic activity and may help understand volcanic processes on other celestial bodies.