Juno Probe Shows Close-Up Views Of Volcanoes And Lava Lakes On Jupiter’s Moon Io
Using NASA’s Juno probe, scientists were able to find out how common lava lakes are on Jupiter’s moon Io, according to a study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment. The researchers also found out exactly how volcanic processes occur on the satellite. And during its recent flyby of the gas giant and most volcanic world in the solar system, the Juno probe captured stunning new images of the two objects.
Scientists are just beginning to sort through data collected from NASA’s probe’s close flybys of Io last year. However, scientific analysis does not tolerate fuss. The first work on these data was published a few days ago in the journal Nature. The JIRAM instrument was developed to study the atmosphere of Jupiter to a depth of 70 km below the cloud cover of the giant planet. But it has also become an excellent tool for studying the echoes of Jupiter, the most striking of which is Io.
Based on JIRAM data on lava lakes discovered on Io, these formations on the satellite are multiple and quite local. Magma does not overflow over the edges of the caldera, from which scientists draw conclusions about the rather high – up to several hundred meters – crater walls.
On July 17, the Juno spacecraft will make its 63rd flyby of Jupiter, and the probe’s mission itself will end with its plunge into the atmosphere of the gas giant in September 2025. This will happen during the 76th flyby of Jupiter.
