Table of Contents
Why does Io not have an atmosphere?
When Io passes into Jupiter’s shadow, and is out of direct sunlight, it is too cold for sulfur dioxide gas, and it condenses onto Io’s surface. During that time, we can only see volcanically-sourced sulfur dioxide. We can, therefore, see exactly how much of the atmosphere is impacted by volcanic activity.
Is there a moon called Io?
Io was discovered on Jan. 8, 1610 by Galileo Galilei. The discovery, along with three other Jovian moons, was the first time a moon was discovered orbiting a planet other than Earth.
Is Io moon active?
The moon Io is the most volcanically active world in the solar system. Io even has lakes of molten silicate lava on its surface.
Why was Io named Io?
Io is named after a maiden who was loved by Zeus. In the Greek myth, Zeus turned her into a heifer in an attempt to hide her from his jealous wife, Hera. Io was discovered by Galileo Galilei and Simon Marius in 1610 and is one of the four Galilean satellites.
Where is Io moon?
Jupiter
Io orbits Jupiter at a distance of 421,700 km (262,000 mi) from Jupiter’s center and 350,000 km (217,000 mi) from its cloudtops. It is the innermost of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, its orbit lying between those of Thebe and Europa. Including Jupiter’s inner satellites, Io is the fifth moon out from Jupiter.
Is Io a moon on Jupiter?
Io is one of the four so-called Galilean moons of Jupiter, along with Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These larger moons, discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, are all visible from Earth with a small telescope.
What does Io look like?
Characteristics of Io The interior of Io is composed of an iron or iron sulfide core and a brown silicate outer layer, giving the planet a splotchy orange, yellow, black, red, and white appearance. Based on data from scientific computer models, Io formed in a region around Jupiter where water ice was plentiful.
What color is Io?
Most of Io’s surface has pastel colors, punctuated by black, brown, green, orange, and red units near the active volcanic centers. A false color version of the mosaic has been created to enhance the contrast of the color variations.
Who named Io moon?
Galileo
Io, also called Jupiter I, innermost of the four large moons (Galilean satellites) discovered around Jupiter by the Italian astronomer Galileo in 1610. It was probably also discovered independently that same year by the German astronomer Simon Marius, who named it after Io of Greek mythology.
How old is io?
about 4.5 billion years old
Age: Io is about 4.5 billion years old, about the same age as Jupiter. Distance from Jupiter: Io is the fifth moon from Jupiter. Its average orbital distance is about 262,000 miles (422,000 km). Io takes 1.77 Earth-days to orbit Jupiter.