Jupiter -- Io In Front of Jupiter's Turbulent Clouds
Date: 25 Jun 1979

This photograph of the southern hemisphere of Jupiter was obtained by Voyager 2 on 25 June 1979, at a distance of 12 million km (8 million miles). Seen in front of the turbulent clouds of the planet is Io, the innermost of the large Galilean satellites of Jupiter. Io, which is about the size of our own Moon, is the most volcanically active planetary body known in the solar system, with continuous eruptions much larger than any that take place on the Earth. The smallest features on either Jupiter or Io that can be distinguished in this picture are about 200 km (125 miles) across.


Last Update: 18 Jan 2012 (AMB)

Credit: NASA/JPL