Produced by: Manoj Kumar
A blistering volcanic event was detected on Io, dwarfing anything seen before in the solar system. NASA’s Juno spacecraft, equipped with JIRAM, captured an unprecedented surge of infrared energy, signaling an eruption of immense magnitude.
Credit : NASA
NASA’s Juno probe identified a massive hot spot on Io, radiating over 80 trillion watts. This volcanic monster is six times more powerful than Earth’s total energy output, revealing an eruption that redefines planetary volcanism.
Credit : NASA
The intense gravitational pull of Jupiter stretches Io’s core, generating colossal heat. This constant flexing fuels eruptions from over 400 volcanoes, spewing molten rock across the tortured moon’s surface.
Credit : NASA
JIRAM’s infrared scans penetrated Io’s turbulent crust, revealing a network of underground magma chambers. Alessandro Mura, an astrophysicist from Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, confirmed the discovery, suggesting an interconnected volcanic system.
Credit : NASA
The detected volcanic site spans over 40,000 square miles—more than five times the size of the previous record-holder, Loki Patera. With such immense scale, the eruption likely reshaped Io’s surface landscape.
Credit : NASA
JunoCam’s images from past flybys were compared to recent ones, exposing dramatic color changes in Io’s southern hemisphere. These alterations indicate freshly deposited lava and sulfur-rich volcanic plumes.
Credit : NASA
The sheer power of the eruption suggests a deep-seated instability in Io’s magma reservoirs. This could mean more frequent and violent eruptions, potentially rewriting our understanding of tidal heating in celestial bodies.
Credit : NASA
Scientists believe Io’s volcanic activity mirrors conditions on early Earth and exoplanets with extreme geothermal activity. Insights from this event could expand our knowledge of planetary evolution.
Credit : NASA
Juno will revisit the site in March, capturing fresh data on how Io’s surface changes post-eruption. Observations from Earth-based telescopes may complement this mission, unveiling more secrets of the solar system’s most volcanic world.