During its 57th orbit around Jupiter, NASA’s Juno spacecraft achieved the closest approach to the planet’s moon Io, surpassing the proximity of any other mission in the past two decades.
On Saturday, December 30, 2023, Juno came within approximately 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) of Io, renowned as the most volcanic body in the solar system.
This close encounter allowed Juno to capture exceptionally detailed images of the Jovian moon.
The last time a spacecraft approached Io more closely was in 2001 when NASA’s Galileo spacecraft passed 112 miles (181 kilometers) above Io’s south pole, Space.com reported.
Having launched on August 5, 2011, and arriving at Jupiter’s system of moons on July 4, 2016, following a 1.7 billion-mile (2.8-billion-kilometer) journey, Juno seized the opportunity to capture six striking views of Io to conclude 2023.
These images include both black and white and color variations. Beyond the visual spectacle, the primary purpose of the close passage was to gather essential data concerning Io and its volcanic activity.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 