For its 57th orbit around Jupiter, the Juno probe of NASA has once again approached the moon Io, at a distance of only 1,500 kilometers. The images are the most resolved since those taken by the Galileo mission, and the readings from the infrared sensors will make it possible to better decipher the volcano moon.
Of the entire Solar System, Io is the only one of its kind. Already, it is one of the most imposing, with 3,650 km in diameter, and its rocky core makes it the densest. Close to Jupiter’s natural satellite, it is subject to titanic tidal forces, which generate its impressive volcanic activity: around 400 volcanoes, a young surface covered in lava, ejections of material up to orbit… In short, it is the big Mustafar atmosphere (even if there are no lightsaber duels, a priori).
Due to its position very close to Jupiter’s clouds, and the intense magnetic activity of the gas giant, Io is complex to observe. The best images date from several flybys by the Galileo probe in the early 2000s, but the Juno space probe now rivals the latter. On December 30, Juno passed 1,500 km from the surface of Io and its volcanoes. A golden opportunity for its specialized sensors, whose readings will be studied by researchers, but also for the general public, who benefit from the photographs of the small Junocam camera.
A golden opportunity
Io’s images are splendid, and as they are provided freely by NASA, it is possible to admire different image treatments (colorization, tilting, mosaicking can be interpreted differently) from different digital artists. An opportunity and a real gift for communication on space exploration at the start of 2024! Especially since the small Junocam camera owes its presence to intense public lobbying: NASA initially planned for the Juno probe to take off without a single “classic” image sensor on board!
Between the shots of Jupiter’s atmosphere and those of its Galilean moons in recent years (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto), it’s a treat. Junocam, however, suffers from less electronic shielding than other instruments, and has suffered from some hiccups in recent months (the environment around Jupiter is an electromagnetic challenge). So you have to enjoy it while it lasts.
Repeated flights
Flybys of Io have been gradually getting closer and closer since last spring, and this is an excellent research opportunity to observe the evolution of the surface, volcanoes and their eruptions over the medium term. And it’s not finished ! The next flight, also at an altitude of 1,500 km, will take place on February 2.
Then, Juno will gradually move away from the volcano moon again, until September 2025. Running out of fuel, the probe (which has been on site since 2016) will then disintegrate in a final and fatal visit to Jupiter’s clouds. Until then, let’s enjoy his photographs.
Source : Space.com
7