Io

Io (pronunciation: /ˈaɪ.oʊ/[7]) is the innermost of the four Galilean moons of the planet Jupiter. It is the fourth-largest moon, has the highest density of all the moons, and has the least amount of relative water of any known object in the Solar System. It was discovered in 1610 and was named after the mythological character Io, a priestess of Hera who became one of Zeus's lovers.
With over 400 active volcanoes, Io is the most geologically active object in the Solar System.[8][9] This extreme geologic activity is the result of tidal heating from friction generated within Io's interior as it is pulled between Jupiter and the other Galilean satellites—Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Several volcanoes produce plumes of sulfur and sulfur dioxide that climb as high as 500 km (300 mi) above the surface. Io's surface is also dotted with more than 100 mountains that have been uplifted by extensive compression at the base of Io's silicate crust. Some of these peaks are taller than Mount Everest.[10] Unlike most satellites in the outer Solar System, which are mostly composed of water ice, Io is primarily composed of silicate rock surrounding a molten iron or iron-sulfide core. Most of Io's surface is composed of extensive plains coated with sulfur and sulfur-dioxide frost.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Io_(moon) 

Portal 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abell 2142 - most massive object in the Universe?

Image
Abell 2142, or A2142 , is a huge, X-ray luminous galaxy cluster in the constellation Corona Borealis . It is the result of a still ongoing merger between two galaxy clusters. The combined cluster is six million light years across, contains hundreds of galaxies and enough gas to make a thousand more. It is "one of the most massive objects in the universe." [1]   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abell_2142 Portal >>>
Read more

Schiaparelli (SkiAppUhRelEE)

Image
Schiaparelli EDM lander [skjapaˈɾɛlːi] was the Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM) of the ExoMars programme—a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency Roscosmos . [4] It was built in Italy and was intended to test technology for future soft landings on the surface of Mars . [5] It also had a limited but focused science payload that would have measured atmospheric electricity on Mars and local meteorological conditions. [2] [6] [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schiaparelli_EDM_lander   Portal  
Read more

Solar System

Image
The Solar System [a] is the gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and the objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly. [b] Of those objects that orbit the Sun directly, the largest eight are the planets , [c] with the remainder being significantly smaller objects, such as dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies . Of the objects that orbit the Sun indirectly, the moons , two are larger than the smallest planet, Mercury . [d] The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud . The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with most of the remaining mass contained in Jupiter . The four smaller inner planets, Mercury , Venus , Earth and Mars , are terrestrial planets , being primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets are giant planets , being substantially more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn , are gas giants , being compose...
Read more