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What it is : Io , Jupiter ’s third - great synodic month
When it was taken : Oct. 15 , 2023
Jupiter’s moon Io as seen by Juno on Oct. 16, 2023.
Where it is:262,000 land mile ( 422,000 kilometre ) from Jupiter
Why it ’s so special : This photo , postulate byNASA ’s Juno ballistic capsule , is the highest - resolution image taken of the most volcanic world in thesolar systemin 22 age . During Juno ’s 55th orbit ofJupiter , the spacecraft came within just 7,260 mile ( 11,680 kilometers ) of Io ’s potholed surface , click dozens of images . The photo above ( which is in enlarged contrast and color ) uncover new details about Io ’s north polar region , which is cover by mountains as tall as 20,000 feet ( 6,000 meters ) , according to Io expert and image processorJason Perry .
Also bring out isa digest of Juno ’s images of Iotaken on Oct. 16 , as well as another photo showing bothIo and Jupiter in the same battleground of view .
Io is the fifth most distant moon from Jupiter , orbit at an mediocre distance of 262,000 statute mile ( 422,000 kilometers ) , and the third - large Jovian moonshine , at slightly tumid than Earth ’s synodic month , consort toSpace.com . ( It ’s smaller than Ganymede and Callisto , but giving than Europa . )
Io is covered in volcano , with about 100 time greater volcanic activity than Earth ’s , concord toNASA . The cause is tidal clash ; Io is tidally lock to Jupiter , always show the planet the same side , yet its orbital track is elliptical because of the gravitational pull of both Europa and Ganymede , according toNASA . As Io bulges in and out , the friction creates heat .
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The image , require by the space vehicle ’s two - megapixel JunoCam , are the highest - solution photos of Io since NASA ’s Galileo orbiter was in the Jovian system in 2001 . During its mission , Galileophotographedtwo magniloquent volcanic plumes from the lunar month ’s Pele and Tvashtar Catena vent .
Juno is on the cusp of two even closer flip of Io . The spacecraft will make its 57th and 58th near approaches , or perijoves ( airless passes ) , of Jupiter on Dec. 30 , 2023 , and Feb. 3 , 2024 , when it will get within just 930 mi ( 1,500 klick ) of Io ’s surface .
