'A 45-year-old puzzle': New data from NASA's Juno solves a mystery dating back to Voyager 1
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Cosmic Mystery
Io’s fiery surface, the most volcanically active in the solar system, was believed to be fueled by a global magma ocean—until NASA’s Juno spacecraft offered a closer look.
Volcanic Insight
Flybys by Juno in December 2023 and February 2024, just 930 miles above Io’s surface, captured unprecedented images and data, unraveling secrets of the moon’s volcanic activity.
Sizzling Surface
Io, with over 400 active volcanoes, erupts continuously due to intense internal heat caused by tidal flexing from Jupiter’s massive gravitational pull.
Magma Chambers
Contrary to previous theories of a global magma ocean, Juno’s data suggests Io’s volcanoes are powered by localized magma chambers beneath each eruption site.
Tidal Flexing
Jupiter’s gravitational force squeezes Io like a stress ball, generating immense heat that melts the moon’s interior and causes constant volcanic eruptions.
Galileo’s Discovery
Since its discovery in 1610 by Galileo Galilei, Io has intrigued scientists, with its volcanic activity first revealed by Voyager 1 in 1979.
Scientific Breakthrough
High-precision Doppler data from Juno measured Io’s gravity, solving a 45-year-old mystery about its internal structure and volcanic energy sources.
Lava Landscapes
Images from Juno revealed surreal features like massive lava lakes, including Loki Patera, a “sea” of molten rock reshaping Io’s alien landscape.
Representative pic
Implications Beyond
Juno’s findings reshape understanding of not just Io but other celestial bodies like Europa, Enceladus, and exoplanets, offering new perspectives on planetary evolution.