What is special about the moon Io?
Io is the only world other than Earth that is observed to have active volcanoes and is the most geologically and volcanically active object in the solar system. Volcanic plumes can rise 300 km (190 miles) above the surface.
Why was the moon Io named Io?
It is just slightly larger than Earth’s moon. Io is named after a maiden who was loved by Zeus. In the Greek myth, Zeus turned her into a heifer in an attempt to hide her from his jealous wife, Hera. Io was discovered by Galileo Galilei and Simon Marius in 1610 and is one of the four Galilean satellites.
What is Io for kids?
Io (Jupiter I) 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 water of any known astronomical object in the Solar System….Io (moon) facts for kids.
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Surface pressure | trace |
| Composition by volume | 90% sulfur dioxide |
What makes Io unique?
Characteristics of Io The moon’s most distinctive features are its volcanoes. Aside from Earth, Io is the only known body in the solar system to have observed active volcanoes. While Galileo had made some cryptic notes inferring possible volcanic activity, NASA’s Voyager spacecraft discovered Io’s volcanoes in 1979.
Where is Io moon?
Jupiter
Io orbits Jupiter at a distance of 421,700 km (262,000 mi) from Jupiter’s center and 350,000 km (217,000 mi) from its cloudtops. It is the innermost of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, its orbit lying between those of Thebe and Europa. Including Jupiter’s inner satellites, Io is the fifth moon out from Jupiter.
How long is a year on Io?
42 hours
Io/Orbital period
Why is Io green?
Thanks to its active volcanic activity and sulfur-rich surface, Io is one of the most colorful worlds yet seen in the Solar System, save the Earth of course. Greens and red-browns crop up across Io’s mid-latitudes and polar regions, respectively, either from sulfur impurities or radiation damage.
How old is Io moon?
about 4.5 billion years old
Age: Io is about 4.5 billion years old, about the same age as Jupiter. Distance from Jupiter: Io is the fifth moon from Jupiter. Its average orbital distance is about 262,000 miles (422,000 km).
What is Io made of?
Characteristics of Io The interior of Io is composed of an iron or iron sulfide core and a brown silicate outer layer, giving the planet a splotchy orange, yellow, black, red, and white appearance. Based on data from scientific computer models, Io formed in a region around Jupiter where water ice was plentiful.