Rare Hubble Portrait of Io and Jupiter
Jupiter's moon Io and its shadow are hurling across the face of the biggest planet in our Solar System. Io itself is a very interesting moon, well known for its many active volcanoes. The smallest details visible on Io and Jupiter are about 150 km across. Bright patches visible on Io are regions of sulfur dioxide frost. Io is roughly the size of Earth's moon, but 2,000 times farther away.
This image, shows Jupiter's volcanic moon Io passing above the turbulent clouds of the giant planet, on July 24, 1996. The conspicuous black spot on Jupiter is Io's shadow.
The smallest details visible on Io and Jupiter are about 100 miles across (about 160 kilometres). Bright patches visible on Io are regions of sulfur dioxide frost. Io is roughly the size of Earth's moon, but 2, 000 times farther away.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA caption
| Id: | opo9630a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 4 October 1996, 06:00 |
| Size: | 720 x 600 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Io, Jupiter |
| Type: | • Solar System : Planet : Type : Gas Giant • Solar System : Planet : Satellite • Solar System Images/Videos |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Ultraviolet U |
340 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Ultraviolet U |
410 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
