What it’s: Io, Jupiter’s third-largest moonWhen it used to be taken: Oct. 15, 2023Where it’s: 262,000 miles (422,000 kilometers) from JupiterWhy it is so particular: This photograph, taken by way of NASA’s Juno spacecraft, is the highest-resolution symbol taken of essentially the most volcanic international within the sun device in 22 years. Right through Juno’s fifty fifth orbit of Jupiter, the spacecraft got here inside simply 7,260 miles (11,680 kilometers) of Io’s pockmarked floor, snapping dozens of pictures. The photograph above (which is in exaggerated distinction and colour) unearths new information about Io’s north polar area, which is roofed by way of mountains as tall as 20,000 ft (6,000 meters), in line with Io knowledgeable and symbol processor Jason Perry.Additionally printed is a compilation of Juno’s photographs of Io taken on Oct. 16, in addition to some other photograph appearing each Io and Jupiter in the similar box of view.Io is the 5th maximum far away moon from Jupiter, orbiting at a mean distance of 262,000 miles (422,000 kilometers), and the third-largest Jovian moon, at somewhat greater than Earth’s moon, in line with House.com. (It is smaller than Ganymede and Callisto, however larger than Europa.)Io is roofed in volcanoes, with about 100 occasions better volcanic job than Earth’s, in line with NASA. The motive is tidal friction; Io is tidally locked to Jupiter, at all times appearing the planet the similar aspect, but its orbital trail is elliptical on account of the gravitational pull of each Europa and Ganymede, in line with NASA. As Io bulges out and in, the friction creates warmth.The photographs, taken by way of the spacecraft’s two-megapixel JunoCam, are the highest-resolution pictures of Io since NASA’s Galileo orbiter used to be within the Jovian device in 2001. Right through its venture, Galileo photographed two tall volcanic plumes from the moon’s Pele and Tvashtar Catena volcanoes.Juno is at the cusp of 2 even nearer passes of Io. The spacecraft will make its 57th and 58th closest approaches, or perijoves (shut passes), of Jupiter on Dec. 30, 2023, and Feb. 3, 2024, when it is going to get inside simply 930 miles (1,500 km) of Io’s floor.
