Io is a massive moon that’s literally on fire.
As Jupiter’s closest large moon, it’s the most volcanically active body in the solar system.
Io’s surface is continuously reshaped by frequent volcanic eruptions, burying the terrain under fresh lava every few thousand years.
The black and red regions on its surface indicate the most recent eruptions, with some deposits likely just a few years old.
This remarkable geological activity is driven by intense tidal forces from Jupiter’s gravity, which generate immense heat within Io’s interior, fueling its endless volcanic activity.
This stunning image, captured by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft, showcases the hemisphere of Io that permanently faces away from Jupiter.
The colors in the image have been enhanced for contrast, but are based on real infrared, green, and violet-light data.
These enhancements reveal the incredible diversity of Io’s surface, from glowing lava lakes to sulfur-rich plains.
As one of the most fascinating celestial bodies in our solar system, Io provides a unique window into the extreme geological processes shaping planetary bodies beyond Eart
