infinity-imagined:Io is the first Galilean moon of Jupiter, it is slightly larger than Earth’s moo
infinity-imagined: Io is the first Galilean moon of Jupiter, it is slightly larger than Earth’s moon. Io experiences intense tidal heating due to its elliptical orbit and orbital resonance with Europa and Ganymede. This makes Io the most geologically active moon in our solar system. Io’s interior is composed of molten iron sulphide, and the surface is a crust of sulfur and silicon. Io has more than 400 active volcanoes, which can eject lava plumes more than 500 kilometers above the surface. Some of the material from Io’s volcanic eruptions leaves the moon and orbits Jupiter, producing a plasma torus. Io also has lakes of lava called paterae, which can also create eruptions. The most dramatic paterae are Loki, Tvashtar, and Tupan. The constant volcanic activity creates a thin atmosphere of sulfur dioxide and sodium chloride. Io is an interesting model for exoplanets with intense geological activity, such as COROT-7b. -- source link
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