Juno, the solar-powered NASA spacecraft, embarked on its mission in August 2011, covering approximately 3 billion kilometers before reaching Jupiter in 2016. On July 31, 2023, during its 53rd close flyby of Jupiter, Juno captured a remarkable image of the giant planet and its volcanic moon, Io. Io is known for its intense volcanic activity, boasting numerous erupting volcanoes emitting molten lava and sulfurous gases. Larger than Earth’s Moon, Io is tidally locked to Jupiter, completing both its axis rotation and orbit around the planet in roughly 1.8 Earth days.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Juno: Juno is a NASA spacecraft powered by solar energy, designed for long, looping orbits around Jupiter, with its launch date on August 5, 2011.
- Jupiter: Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the primary focus of Juno’s mission, aiming to study the planet’s composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere.
- Io: Io is one of Jupiter’s largest moons, known for its intense volcanic activity, making it a captivating subject of study for planetary scientists.
- Tidally Locked: Tidally locked refers to a celestial body’s condition where one side permanently faces another due to gravitational forces, as is the case with Io’s relationship with Jupiter.
- Orbit Period: Io completes both its rotation on its axis and its orbit around Jupiter in approximately 1.8 Earth days, making it one of the fastest-orbiting objects in our solar system.