NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft has showed a huge volcanic eruption on Jupiter’s moon Io.
The dust plume that is released from the eruption is estimated to be 240km high.
The volcano in the scenario is named Tvashtar volcano.
The spacecraft flew by Jupiter to use its gravity to sling shoot it towards its final destination Pluto.
This gravity push will speed up the spacecraft to a speed of 14,000kmph and it will reach Pluto in 2015.
The spacecraft has also captured some pictures of Jupiter’s little red spot, a storm south of the famous great red spot.
The probe will carry out some 700 observations of the Jupiter system by June and will then leave to study the distant planet Pluto and its moons.
The probe will also make some observations of Europa and Ganymede. These observations will allow scientists to map their surface features and composition.
Europa is also considered to be an active target to search for extraterrestrial life. Scientists comment that Europa may be having an ocean of water under its icy surface which is warmed by heat from the interior of the moon.
Via: BBC
