NASA's Juno Probe Peers Beneath Io's Volcanic Surface
NASA's Juno spacecraft has captured new data revealing what lies beneath the surface of Io, Jupiter's innermost and most volcanically active moon. The findings offer scientists an unprecedented look at the internal structure of the moon, which hosts hundreds of active volcanoes.
The subsurface discoveries could have implications far beyond this single moon. Researchers suggest the data may transform how scientists study volcanic activity across the solar system, including here on Earth, by providing a comparative framework for understanding volcanic processes under different gravitational and thermal conditions.
Io's extreme volcanism is driven by tidal heating—constant gravitational kneading from Jupiter and its other moons that keeps the moon's interior molten. Juno's close flybys have allowed scientists to peer beneath this volcanic surface, offering clues about the moon's interior composition and the mechanisms that power its relentless volcanic outbursts.