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Full Disk Views of Io
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Full Disk Views of Io
Three views of the full disk of Jupiters volcanic moon, Io, each shown in natural and enhanced color. These three views, taken by Galileo in late June 1996, show about 75 percent of Ios surface. North is up. The top disks are intended to show the satellite in natural color (but colors will vary with display devices) while the bottom disks show enhanced color (near-infrared, green, and violet filtered images) to highlight details of the surface. These images reveal that some areas on Io are truly red, whereas much of the surface is yellow or light greenish. (Accurate natural color renditions were not possible from the Voyager images taken during the 1979 flybys because there was no coverage in the red.) The reddish materials may be associated with very recent fragmental volcanic deposits (pyroclastics) erupted in the form of volcanic plumes. Dark materials appear in flows and on caldera floors. Bright white materials correspond to sulfur dioxide frost, and bright yellow materials appear to be in new flows such as those surrounding Ra Patera. The red material may be unstable since the color appears to fade over time. This fading appears to occur most rapidly in the equatorial region and more slowly over the polar regions; surface temperature may control the rate of transformation. Comparisons of these images to those taken by the Voyager spacecraft 17 years earlier have revealed that many changes have occurred on Io. Since that time, about a dozen areas at least as large as the state of Connecticut have been resurfaced. Ios diameter is 3, 632 km. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA manages the mission for NASAs Office of Space Science, Washington, DC
Space Image feature a selection of NASA's incredible imagery
Media ID 635244
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory Jupiter Voyager
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This stunning print captures the full disk views of Io, one of Jupiter's volcanic moons. Taken by Galileo in late June 1996, these three images showcase approximately 75 percent of Io's surface. The top disks present the moon in its natural color, while the bottom disks display enhanced colors to emphasize surface details using near-infrared, green, and violet filters. The images reveal a diverse landscape on Io with areas ranging from red to yellow or light greenish hues. The reddish materials are believed to be recent fragmental volcanic deposits erupted as volcanic plumes. Dark materials can be observed flowing and covering caldera floors, while bright white patches indicate sulfur dioxide frost. Additionally, vibrant yellow materials surround Ra Patera and appear to be new flows. Interestingly, the red material seems unstable as it fades over time. This fading occurs more rapidly at the equatorial region compared to the polar regions due to varying surface temperatures that control this transformation process. Comparisons between these images and those taken by Voyager spacecraft 17 years earlier have revealed numerous changes on Io's surface. Remarkably, areas equivalent in size to Connecticut have been resurfaced since then. With a diameter measuring 3,632 km, Io continues to captivate scientists with its dynamic geology and ever-changing features. Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena for their Office of Space Science based in Washington D. C. , this mission provides invaluable insights into our solar system's fascinating celestial bodies beyond Earth.
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