NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided new insights into Jupiter's moon Io, refuting the long-held theory of a global magma ocean beneath its crust. Observations during recent flybys reveal no significant mass beneath the surface, prompting scientists to rethink Io's unique volcanism. This finding raises questions about the internal structure of geologically active moons, as it contradicts previous interpretations of volcano patterns. The study, led by Scott Bolton, is backed by independent experts who regard the results as robust and convincing, emphasizing the ongoing mystery of Io's geology.
Scott Bolton's first encounter with Io took place in the summer of 1980, right after he graduated from college and started a job at NASA. The Voyager 1 spacecraft had flown past this moon of Jupiter, catching the first glimpse of active volcanism on a world other than Earth. Umbrella-shaped outbursts of magmatic matter rocketed into space from all over Io's surface.
This theory dovetails neatly with several observations, including ones showing a roughly uniform distribution of Io's volcanoes, which seem to be tapping the same omnipresent, hellish source of melt.
During recent flybys of the volcanic moon by NASA's Juno spacecraft, scientists measured Io's gravitational effect on Juno, using the spacecraft's tiniest wobbles to determine the moon's mass distribution and therefore its internal structure.
There is no shallow ocean, said Bolton, who leads the Juno mission.
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