NASA’s Juno captures stunning close-up of Jupiter’s moon Io’s volcanic activity; see image here

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has unveiled Io's fiery secrets. During a close flyby on 30 December 2023, the Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) captured detailed black-and-white images of Io’s surface. The images highlight the moon’s volcanic intensity in stunning clarity.

Zal Patera Reveals Fresh Lava Flows
The SRU captured Io from about 932 miles away. This high-resolution image provides details as fine as 895 to 1,230 meters per pixel. The view reveals the Zal Montes-Patera complex and part of the Tonatiuh eruptive centre.

Fresh lava flows are visible in Zal Patera. This large dark area sits between two towering mountains. Scientists also detected sulfur dioxide gas near the lava flows. Thermal emissions suggest active lava breakouts around Zal Patera and South Zal Mons. A curved emission feature nearby hints at an active lava channel.

This black-and-white visible wavelength (450-1,100 nm) image of Io's surface was taken by the Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) aboard NASA's Juno spacecraft during a close flyby of the volcanic moon on Dec. 30, 2023. (Image: NASA)