Recent analysis of JunoCam images has revealed large, newly formed volcanoes on Europa, demonstrating significant geological changes that have occurred since 1997. Located near the equator, the volcano features striking red sulfur deposits and extensive lava flows, which were observed by NASA's Juno mission. These discoveries are openly accessible to the public, promoting broad participation in space exploration.

Comparing JunoCam data from February 2024 with images of the same area taken by the Galileo mission in November 1997 (grayscale inset) revealed new volcanic features on the surface of Jupiter's moon Io. Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Europlanet

A new volcano has been discovered on Jupiter's moon Io, the most geologically active place in the solar system. The first close-up image analysis of Europa in 25 years, taken by the JunoCam instrument on NASA's Juno mission, shows the emergence of a new volcano on Europa with multiple lava flows and volcanic deposits covering an area of ​​approximately 180 kilometers by 180 kilometers. The findings were presented this week at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) in Berlin.

The new volcano is located south of Europa's equator. Although Europa is dotted with active volcanoes, images taken by NASA during the Galileo mission in 1997 found no volcanoes in this particular area, only a featureless surface.

A side-by-side comparison of Galileo spacecraft images from November 1997 (left) and JunoCam data from the same area in February 2024 (right) revealed new volcanic features on the surface of Jupiter's moon Io. Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

"Our recent JunoCam images show many changes on Europa, including this large and complex volcanic landscape that appears to have been formed out of thin air since 1997," said Michael Ravine, senior project manager at Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.

The east side of the volcano was dyed red all over the sky by sulfur, which erupted from the volcano into space and fell back to the surface of Europa. On the west side, two dark lava flows gush out, each lava flow is about 100 kilometers long. At the far end of the lava flow, where the lava pools together, the high temperatures vaporize the frozen material on the surface, creating two overlapping gray circular deposits.

Sequence of Europa encounter images taken by JunoCam on February 3, 2024 (the first two images show Europa illuminated by Jupiter's light). The new volcano discussed above was captured in the second image of the sequence. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

On February 3, 2024, the Juno camera captured the best image of this landform at a scale of 1.7 kilometers per pixel at a distance of 530 kilometers from Europa. The image captures a night view of Io, with light coming only from Jupiter.

During 2023 and 2024, JunoCam captured approximately 20 color images visible at close range. JunoCam observed a total of nine plumes associated with active volcanic features on the moon, as well as other changes such as new lava flows and other surface deposits.

Illustration illustrating the size of the lava flow relative to Berlin, host city of the 2024 European Planetary Science Conference (EPSC). Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Europlanet/Google Maps

JunoCam data will be posted on the mission website soon after it is received on Earth, allowing the public to create images of Jupiter and its moons.

"JunoCam images are produced by people from all walks of life, providing a way for anyone to join our science team and share in the excitement of space exploration," said Scott Bolton, Juno mission principal investigator at NASA Southwest Research Institute.

Compiled from /scitechdaily