The Daily Telescope has a fresh perspective to offer. Today, a new image of the Jovian moon Io captured during a February 3 flyby is unveiled. This image, processed by Björn Jónsson, showcases Io in a spectacular new light, complete with a visible volcanic plume on the moon’s surface. The image was produced using raw data released by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which has been conducting flybys of Jupiter’s intriguing moons as part of its mission to study the gas giant up close. The small, bright features in the image are thought to be specular reflections from typically dark features, possibly volcanic glass, while a prominently visible plume is located in the lower right portion of the image, brightened and heavily processed to enhance its visibility. According to Jónsson, the plume appears magical. If you have an intriguing photo to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Daily Telescope.
