In the photograph, Jupiter’s Moon Io appears with one side half-illuminated by sunlight from the right, while the left side is dimly lit by reflected light from the gas giant.
NASA, known for regularly capturing breathtaking images of our universe, shared a captivating close-up photo of Jupiter’s Moon Io, taken by the Juno spacecraft. In the accompanying caption, NASA revealed that Juno conducted a close flyby of Io on Saturday, approaching within 1,500 kilometers of the celestial body.
“On Saturday, Feb. 3, our @NASASolarSystem Juno spacecraft made its final close flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io. Similar to the previous flyby on Dec. 30, 2023, this second pass was at a distance of about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) – or the distance from New York to Orlando, Florida,” NASA wrote.
The image portrays Io, one of Jupiter’s largest moons, set against the backdrop of space. Its surface is partially bathed in sunlight, displaying shades of orange, brown, and yellow. Circular volcanic calderas, irregular lava flows, and imposing mountains, casting shadows, adorn its surface.
According to NASA, Io experiences intense volcanic activity due to the gravitational pull from Jupiter and its other large moons, resulting in significant heat and frictional tidal heating. This phenomenon leads to the formation of eruptions and lava lakes across Io’s rugged terrain.
NASA anticipates that the recent flybys of Jupiter’s moon will provide valuable insights into its volcanic mechanisms and the potential existence of a global magma ocean beneath its surface.
Juno spacecraft, launched in August 2011 and arriving at Jupiter’s system of moons in July 2016, made its closest flyby of Io on December 30, 2023. This marked a significant milestone, with Juno capturing detailed images of the Jovian moon. The spacecraft’s proximity to Io was unparalleled since 2001 when NASA’s Galileo spacecraft passed just 112 miles (181 kilometers) above Io’s south pole.
