What’s That 6
Io
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and has many moons that can be seen with just a simple pair of binoculars. One of these moons is the strange and bizarre Io.
Because Jupiter is so large it exerts massive gravitational tidal forces on Io, keeping the core of this moon hot and liquid. As a result of these powerful forces and the moon’s composition Io is covered with over 400 active volcanoes.
These volcanoes spew plumes of sulfur and sulfur dioxide crystals over 300 miles above the surface of Io. That’s amazing!
Io was first discovered in 1610 by the great astronomer Galileo Galile. He was an early pioneer of telescope construction and astronomy. Back then, people thought that the sun and planets revolved around Earth and when he tried to show everyone that Earth was not the center of the solar sytem he was forced to say he was wrong in public and was placed under arrest!
Jupiter has over 60 moons but only 4 of them are easily visible. Jupiter is the third brightest object in the night sky after our own Moon and Venus though on occasion Mars will be brighter.
