Hot stuff

Scientists just recorded a huge eruption on one of Jupiter’s moons

What else can we expect from Io?

by Jennifer Walter
Portrait of Io showing its craters and volcanoes. Taken during the Voyager mission
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

While Jupiter’s moon Europa is suspected to host a hidden ocean — boosting the possibility of alien lifeforms — its sibling Io has a reputation for being a lot more destructive.

NASA/JPL/DLR

Hundreds of volcanoes continuously erupt over Io’s surface, thanks to the gravitational tug-of-war between Jupiter and its other moons.

Some blasts are so powerful that they can be seen from telescopes on Earth.

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