“Slightly larger than Earth’s moon, Io is a world in constant torment. Not only is the biggest planet in the solar system forever pulling at it gravitationally, but so are its Galilean siblings – Europa and the biggest moon in the solar system, Ganymede. The result is that Io is continuously stretched and squeezed, actions linked to the creation of the lava seen erupting from its many volcanoes.”—”NASA’s Juno Mission Getting Closer to Jupiter’s Moon Io. The gas giant orbiter has flown over 510 million miles and also documented close encounters with three of Jupiter’s four largest moons.”
Oh hello, Io! During its 51st close flyby of Jupiter on May 16, our #JunoMission captured these views of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io.
More about Juno's exploration of Io: https://t.co/QhqQNP8Cgy
Other recent images: https://t.co/Ql7aCQvRqY
📸 processed by Kevin M. Gill pic.twitter.com/QS4eWfzIi3
— NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) May 18, 2023
Also “NASA swoops by an erupting volcano world and snaps jaw-dropping images. It’s getting closer and closer to the extreme moon.”