NASA’s Juno Spacecraft Maps Thermal Activity on Jupiter’s Moon Io

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has successfully captured thermal data from the surface of Io, one of Jupiter's moons, utilizing its Microwave Radiometer (MWR) instrument. During two separate flybys, the probe mapped the side of the moon that remains permanently oriented toward Jupiter.

The first set of observations occurred on December 30, 2023, during Perijove 57, focusing primarily on the northern hemisphere. A subsequent pass on February 3, 2024, known as Perijove 58, shifted the instrument's focus to the moon's equatorial and mid-latitude regions. As the spacecraft passed within approximately 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) of Io, it maintained a rotation rate of two revolutions per minute, creating a distinct overlapping pattern of data collection.

The Juno mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Southwest Research Institute, where Scott Bolton serves as the principal investigator. The project operates under NASA’s New Frontiers Program, with spacecraft construction and operations handled by Lockheed Martin Space.

Source: NASA