JUNO SPACECRAFT CAPTURES STUNNING IMAGE OF JOVIAN MOON IO, MAY BE ONE OF LAST
NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently completed a close encounter with Jupiter’s moon Io, a world known for its intense volcanic activity. The spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, reached a mere 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) from Io’s surface on December 30. The close encounter provided an opportunity to capture detailed images of the moon, revealing its high northern latitudes.
The first image from this close pass was shared on social media by NASA and shows a black-and-white view of Io taken at an altitude of about 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers). The image also captures the moon’s dark side, which is illuminated by sunlight reflecting from Jupiter—a phenomenon known as “Jupitershine.”
The Juno mission promises that more images of Io and Jupiter will be available soon, despite concerns about the spacecraft’s camera. Juno’s camera, known as JunoCam, has suffered radiation damage and has recently been experiencing performance issues. NASA hints that the camera may be approaching the end of its operational life, noting that it has been suffering from overheating and requires regular maintenance to restore its function.
Io’s turbulent orbit around Jupiter produces immense heat, which scientists believe creates an ocean of magma beneath its rocky surface. This makes Io the most volcanic world in the solar system, with eruptions that are orders of magnitude more powerful than anything seen on Earth.
Juno has been exploring Jupiter and its largest moons since 2016, with close encounters of three of its four largest moons—Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Another spacecraft, known as JUICE, is scheduled to visit the moon Callisto in the coming years, with plans to also explore Europa and Ganymede.
While Juno’s close pass with Io may be among its last due to camera issues, the spacecraft is expected to make another close encounter with the moon in February, possibly providing more incredible images for NASA’s ongoing exploration of the Jovian system.