You can help improve this page by clicking this.
Io, also known as Jupiter I, is the innermost of the Galilean moons belonging to the outer planet of Jupiter. It is also the 4th largest moon in the solar system. Io is a moon of active volcanoes and lava flowing all around the surface of the planet. Io constantly has erupting volcanoes. In fact, Io is the most active object in the Solar System because of its volcanoes. Each black spot on the picture you see is a volcano. This moon was discovered by the astronomer Galileo Galilei on January 8, 1610. It is the fourth-largest natural satellite in the solar system.
Surface
Io is full of active volcanoes. Some of these volcanoes are dormant, or extinct volcanoes. The active volcanoes are erupting constantly and can fire ash and cinders 300 km above the surrounding surface. One of these active volcanoes is named Prometheus, not to be confused with the moon of Saturn with the same name.
Mountains are also populous around the planet's surface as well. In fact, Io is home to more than one hundred fifty mountains. One of those mountains includes Tohil Mons, meaning "Mount Tohil". This mountain reaches about five to six kilometres (3.1 miles) in height.
Some describe Io as looking like a "pizza", due to the looks of its surface.
| Geology of Io | |
|---|---|
| Paterae | Ah Peku • Amaterasu • Asha • Babbar • Dazhbog • Estan • Fuchi • Gish Bar • Kami-Nari • Kinch Ahau • Loki • Manua • Maui • Mithra • Monan • Pillman • Pyerun • Ra • Reiden • Shango • Svarog • Tawhaki • Thomagata • Tupan • Tvashtar • Viracocha |
| Mountains | Egypt • Euboea • Silpium • Tohil |
| Lava channels | Tawhaki |
| Volcanos/volcanism | Amirani • Marduk • Masubi • Pele • Prometheus • Surt • Tonatiuh • Thor • Volund • Xihe • Zamama |
| Mensae | Capaneus • Echo • Epaphus • Hermes • Iynx • Pan • Telegonus |
| Fluctus/Lava flows | Acala • Arinna • Donar • Fjorgynn • Kanehekili • Lei-Kung • Lei-zi • Sobo • Tung Yo • Uta |
| Plains and plateaus | Argos Planum • Danube Planum • Dodona Planum • Ethiopia Planum • Hybristes Planum • Iopolis Planum • Lyrcea Planum • Nemea Planum |
| Tholi | Apis Tholus • Inachus Tholus • Tsui Goab Tholus |
| Regio | Bactria • Bosphorus • Bulicame • Chalybes • Colchis • Illyrikon • Lerna • Media • Mycenae • Tarsus |
Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Io consists of mostly making sulfur dioxide, making up about 95% of the atmosphere. The rest is other carbon-based gases such as carbon dioxide.
Formation
Most astronomers believe that Io was formed shortly after Jupiter in the same area, the same going for the other Jovian moons.
Gallery
