EAS206 Lecture 17: EAS 206 - Lecture 17 - Galilean Satellites of Jupiter
30 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Exploration of Jupiter
Galilean Satellites
• Heat source = TIDAL FLEXING
o The closer they are, the more they are subjected to flexing
o Io is class example of flexing and release taking place (going closer and further
from Jupiter)
o Tidal activity of the rock (Io) itself as a result fo orbiting the gas giant Jupiter
IO
• Pic of Io
o Compounds of sulfur that explains the different colours on Io
o Lots of volcanic activity
• Moon vs Io
o Lots of similarity
o Io is larger than the moon
o Distance from primary
▪ Distance of Moon from Earth
▪ Distance of Io from Jupiter
• Io – Volcanic Features
o Irregular edges
▪ Lava flowed out onto the surface
o Smooth plains
▪ Covered with ash (explosive volcanic eruption)
▪ Filling in depressions
o Lack of impact craters
▪ Very young surface
• Io - Active Volcanism
o Ra Patera
▪ Dark blotch = eruption
▪ Yellowish = sulfur compounds that “snow” out onto the surface after
ruption (in the 2nd picture)
▪ Lava flows to the side
o Pele
▪ Plumes that come out is sulfur desposits
o Pilan Patera
▪ Gray area eruption has snowed out
▪ Colours = sulfur compounds
• Change over time due to UV irradiation, reverting it back to pure
sulfur (orange yellow)
o Hot spots
▪ At least 700 K (425oC)
o Evidence
