If volcanoes on Earth are fascinating, how much more incredible would it be to be able to watch them explode out in space? Thanks to NASA’s Juno spacecraft, this dream has become a reality. The probe recently completed a flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io and captured stunning visuals of its volcanic landscape.
Incredible images from outer space
Jason Perry, a professional photographer for CaSSIS, HiRISE, and Io Volcano Observer, posted an animated GIF on X. The GIF, which showcases 13 images from Juno’s recent close encounter with Io, captures the moon’s volcanic activity in detail.
According to Mashable, these images have been refined to eliminate any noise and distortion. This enhancement process was carried out by a mix of professional and amateur image processors, including some affiliated with NASA or its space research partners.
NASA describes Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, as the most volcanically active body in our solar system
NASA describes Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, as the most volcanically active body in our solar system. It hosts hundreds of volcanoes that can spew lava high into the sky, a phenomenon driven by the intense gravitational pull from Jupiter and timed interactions with its other moons, Europa and Ganymede.
Given its extreme volcanic activity and high levels of radiation, Io, which is slightly larger than our moon, is considered an inhospitable place for life. It ranks as the third largest of Jupiter’s moons.
Since 2016, NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been exploring the areas beneath the thick clouds that surround Jupiter. The spacecraft has performed approximately 60 flybys of Io, with the most recent close approaches occurring on December 30, 2023, and February 3, 2024.