NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been making headlines recently with its close flybys of Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system. During these encounters, Juno has captured unprecedented data that is wowing scientists and shedding new light on this mysterious moon.
One of the most exciting discoveries from Juno’s flybys is the identification of numerous active volcanoes on Io’s surface, with some caught in the act of erupting. The spacecraft even captured close-ups and data on a massive 127-mile-long lava lake known as Loki Patera.
Juno came within an impressive 930 miles of Io’s surface during the flybys conducted in December 2023 and February 2024. The data collected has allowed scientists to create detailed maps of Io’s surface, revealing that it is smoother than other moons orbiting Jupiter and that its poles are significantly colder than its mid-latitude regions.
In addition to studying Io, Juno has also provided valuable information on Jupiter itself. Scientists have been able to analyze differences in the gas giant’s north polar cyclones and have gained insights into the abundance of water near Jupiter’s equator, which is three to four times higher than the solar abundance compared to hydrogen.
Overall, Juno’s mission has been instrumental in furthering our understanding of Jupiter and its moons, with the spacecraft scheduled for its next close flyby on May 12. As researchers continue to analyze the wealth of data provided by Juno, new discoveries are sure to come to light, further unraveling the mysteries of our solar system.
