NASA's Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016. The craft's primary missions involving studies of the gas giant itself were completed in 2018, but the project was extended to include the moons of Ganymede, Europa, and Io. Recently, the craft passed within 930 miles of the surface of Io and captured close-up images of the moon's highly volcanic northern latitudes. — Read the rest
The post Moon of Jupiter has a lake of lava appeared first on Boing Boing.
NASA's Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016. The craft's primary missions involving studies of the gas giant itself were completed in 2018, but the project was extended to include the moons of Ganymede, Europa, and Io. Recently, the craft passed within 930 miles of the surface of Io and captured close-up images of the moon's highly volcanic northern latitudes. — Read the rest
Enlarge (credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Thomas Thomopoulos)
Ever since the Voyager mission sent home images of Jupiter's moon Io spewing material into space, we've gradually built up a clearer picture of Io's volcanic activity. It slowly became clear that Io, which is a bit smaller than Mercury, is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, with all that activity driven by the gravitational strain caused by Jupiter and its three other giant mo
Ever since the Voyager mission sent home images of Jupiter's moon Io spewing material into space, we've gradually built up a clearer picture of Io's volcanic activity. It slowly became clear that Io, which is a bit smaller than Mercury, is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, with all that activity driven by the gravitational strain caused by Jupiter and its three other giant moons. There is so much volcanism that its surface has been completely remodeled, with no signs of impact craters.
A few more details about its violence came to light this week, with new images being released of the moon's features, including an island in a lake of lava, taken by the Juno orbiter. At the same time, imaging done using an Earth-based telescope has provided some indications that this volcanism has been reshaping Io from almost the moment it formed.
Fiery, glassy lakes
The Juno orbiter's mission is primarily focused on studying Jupiter, including the dynamics of its storms and its internal composition. But many of its orbital passes have taken it right past Io, and this week, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory released some of the best images from these flybys. They include a shot of Loki Patera, a lake of lava that has an island within it. Also featured: the impossibly sheer slopes of Io's Steeple Mountain.
NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission will carry a unique artifact to Jupiter's moon Europa, blending science, technology, and art. The spacecraft is set to launch in October and will journey over 1.6 billion miles to orbit Jupiter, making multiple flybys of Europa. — Read the rest
The post NASA just unveiled the message plate to greet Jupiter's moon Europa appeared first on Boing Boing.
NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper mission will carry a unique artifact to Jupiter's moon Europa, blending science, technology, and art. The spacecraft is set to launch in October and will journey over 1.6 billion miles to orbit Jupiter, making multiple flybys of Europa. — Read the rest
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