Great Geyser on Io

radarredux · May 15, 2007

Check out this animated GIF of a volcano/geyser on Io. It really is amazing to see the material actually flowing: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/gallery/missionPhotos/images/HighRes/051407_loop.gif A brief write up can be found at: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=24207 If I had a magic funding wand, I would "swish and flick" to get a probe that just orbits Io and sends down a smaller probe to land on the surface.

3488 · May 16, 2007

Hi RadarRedux. That mission proposal of yours is exactly what I am trying to get approved!! I am advocating an Io Orbiter & lander, but before arrival in Io orbit I intend to do several close recons on all four of the Galileans (one metre reso or better at closest approach to all four), plus at least one asteroid encounter on route through the Asteroid Belt, as well as observations of at least two of the smaller outer moons, perhaps one each from each 'group', perhaps Himalia (middle Silicate prograde group) & Pasiphae (outer Carbonaceous retrograde group). Not to mention a robust Jupiter observations. The Io orbiter would have a full colour wide angle camera, to image the entire globe of Io from a polar orbit at the same resolution & a HiRISE / LORRI type camera to image features of interest. The polar orbit will be low, typically less than 100 KM, possibly lowering to less than 60 KM. This would enable the orbiter to pass through many plumes, sampling each in turn, not to mention super high resolution images of the surface (down to a few centimetres). The lander would be equipped with a mutispectral PANCAM, similar to those on the MERs, siesmometers & a tilt meter. So as you see, I have my own plans, just a matter of convincing the right people. There is much info on the New Horizons Jupiter encounter thread. Also this thread started by Alex Blackwell. I suggest we keep this thread as a general Io one. I will contribute more. Andr <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

j05h · May 16, 2007

The volcano plume animation is amazing. Almost live, from another world. Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center">We need a first generation of pioneers. </div> </div>

3488 · May 17, 2007

Hi JO5H. Very, very true. You may be interested in these movies from Voyager 2. Monday 9th July 1979. Io Rotation in Colour. Io Rotation with Jupitershine. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · May 17, 2007

Do you think, in these days of squeezed budgets, and possibly a lack of interest by a large section of the public for space exploration. That, missions to active worlds such as Io, enceladus, Titan, even Triton. Or missions to worlds with obviously fresh geologic activity could be a way to 1. Maximize science gathered due to so much going on at these worlds, and 2. excite the public with these movies, and dramatic imagery? Do not get me wrong. I can pour over ancient terrain images from Mars for example for hours, and be extremely interested. But, if you can get this amount of data from Io in a fly-past, by a space craft not even designed to have that as its primary goal. Or to fly through a plume from Enceladus, land a rover on Titan, land next to a fresh crack on Europa. is not the potential for science huge? Also we may learn what ancient features actualy are on other worlds without any doubt, and with 100% certainty. Therefore i am firmly in the camp with anybody proposing missions to Io, and any other dynamic world in the solar system. Andrew, if you need any help with your Io proposals, i would gladly help. I am not sure how though. *L* <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

3488 · May 17, 2007

Thank you very much Anthmartian. You are correct on ALL counts here. Public apathy & ignorance unfortunately is not easy to overcome. Here in the UK, we are seeing Colleges & Universities close down, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geosciences, Biology, Mathematics, etc courses, because students are not taking them up. Rather many are opting for Media Studies & other such dumbed down subjects. The links below explain well. It makes my blood boil!!! Standards are definately slipping. No doubt. Reading Uni Lab closure. Britain general Uni lab closures. Anyway, yes I too would like to see follow up missions to Enceladus, Titan & Triton too. Perhaps Pluto too if shown by New Horizons to be interesting. Obviously it would be desirable to see Eris, Quaoar & Sedna close up. The ancient terrain on Mars, the Moon, 433 Eros, Phoebe (quite an Oxymoron that Cassini may have beaten New Horizons to a rendezvous with a KBO, as Cassini encountered Phoebe before NH got to Pluto), etc are fascinating too. There is much to be learned from the inactive bodies too. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · May 17, 2007

we ourselves could be part of the problem. because we are excited by almost any imagery. Even of long dead worlds. We find excitement in working out what happened when it was active. maybe we, and mission planners should take a step back and put ourselves in the shoes of the public/young people. So, maybe a program of missions with half an eye on what could potentially excite the general public, or capture their imaginations could be just what the doctor ordered. Especialy when it becomes time to seek more funding. A thorough examination of Io would certainly do that. I feel that is an angle that could help sell a mission to Io. This world is not only alive, it is dramatic on a huge scale, even to an average person in the street with little interest in space exploration. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

MeteorWayne · May 17, 2007

I'd still rather be one of us, than one of the general public <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

anthmartian · May 17, 2007

So would I! But don't tell them that. *L* <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

3488 · May 18, 2007

Same here too!!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Anyway, a future mission that goes that way (probably the next is Juno), it would be very disirable, to get a good view of the Tvashtar volcano & surrounding ejecta ring. The eruption in question, was unusually violent, even for Io. During the encounter, the plume rose in altitude (290 KM @ beginning of encounter & 322 KM at the end). One strange observation I made myself was that the plume width remained the same throughout. Perhaps the source sprayed, more at first, than the vent narrowed, becoming more like a jet. Just a stupid theory of mine. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> There appeared to be renewed activity at Amirani (the site of the largest lava flows in the entire Solar System) & at the source of Sobo Fluctus, a huge flow front & one of the widest lava flows in the entire solar system. Several brand new eruptions were seen, three never seen before. Boosaule Mons was seen in profile for the first time & together with the Voyager 1, Voyager 2 & Galileo images, have determined that it is even taller than first thought, before New Horizons. Boosaule Mons is at least 17,900 metres / 58,000 feet tall. Boosaule Mons now joins the list of the tallest mountains in the Solar System. In fact it tis the second tallest NAMED mountain in the Solar System, after Olympus Mons on Mars. The other three Tharsis Volcanoes: Ascreaus Mons, Pavonis Mons & Arsia Mons sit on top of the 10 KM high ridge called the Tharsis Rise (Jon Clarke, please jump in if I am wrong on this). So although their summits are about 24 KM above the mean surface level (Datum Line on Mars), they sit on already very high ground about 700 KM apart (Jon Clarke, please jump in if I am wrong on this too). Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

centsworth_II · May 18, 2007

"Anyway, a future mission that goes that way (probably the next is Juno), it would be very disirable to get a good view of the Tvahtar volcano & surrounding ejecta ring." I don't recall ever seeing anything suggesting that Juno's camera would get images of any of Jupiter's moons. I don't know if it will be possible given the small size of the camera and Juno's orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · May 18, 2007

Hi centsworth_II. I am not aware as yet, of how JUNO will make the final polar orbit around Jupiter. I would be MOST surprised if they did not attempt some imagery of Io given its high level & changing activity. I too would be very susrpised if they did not attempt imagery of the inner moons, Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea & Thebe, not forgetting Jupiter's rings. As you correctly say, the camera (JUNOCAM) is very small, but very powerful to boot. The JUNO mission is going to be fantastic, to see Jupiter's atmosphere in such fine detail, hopefully 3D images of the Jovian thunderheads, etc!!! Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · May 18, 2007

Now you're makin' it too easy <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> Wayne To the JUNO mission, is this currently fully funded, or is in a holding pattern? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · May 18, 2007

JUNO is definately on. Lets just hope that it is not cancelled. JPL New Frontiers JUNO Mission. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

portercc · May 18, 2007

Great idea for a mission Andrew. You seem to have a little better understanding of the general public than those running the exploratory shows these days. If I may try to hammer this home one more time...The gp does not care about magnetospheres, spectroscopic images or even fuzzy black & white images. They need to see sharp COLOR images. We live in a world of tourists that want to know what it would look like if they flew by in a spacecraft. I know that is feeble minded, but that is where the funding comes from. I know New Horizons is providing a lot of great science but it is a failure as far as imaging, creating interest and inspiring the gp. Designs in the future need to be multi-platform/multi-storage with an eye on the subject at all times. It may take months to download...eh hmm...but if we don't give the public what they want, we won't get what we want.

3488 · May 21, 2007

Hi potercc. I am afraid that you are correct. Do not get me wrong. I LOVE big colour images & see how objects look to the human eye. The gp is generally scientifically illiterate, hence do not understand our aims, the vast importance of & our passion for space exploration. My proposed Io mission will hopefully appeal to a large section of the community as a whole as well as carrying out vital scientific research. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · May 21, 2007

As you know from my previous posts, i totally agree with that. We do not want unmanned space exploration to be seen to go the way of manned space flight. To the gp, going around and around the Earth is not exciting or sparking the imagination. So it now falls on robots to open their eyes. it would be a shame, when you consider the higher risk missions or the extra environments open to robotic craft. If they do not go to places like Io. Or if robotic missions to the vacinity of these worlds do not at least take in some views of these worlds and exciting features. I am of the view that we have for the most part scouted out the solar system now. We have uncovered fantastic places. We should now be maximizing our efforts to go to places we have found to be dynamic and exciting, where big questions will be answered. Where big science returns are going to happen. Luckily these types of missions will stimulate the public too by there very nature. It is very easy to just sit here and delight at every missions returned data as we do. One day though, funding could vanish. Long term, we will see a continuation of young people just not being interested. In short, we need missions with the same wow factor as Hubble. The MER's had that factor, the servers could not cope at the beginning with the traffic hitting their web sites. Now things have settled down to hard science, of the type which keeps us lot happy too. So, spectacular missions need not be dumbed down ones at all. Io ticks all the boxes. So too does Europa. It will provide a vast science return. Also one big Wow! from the gp too. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

holmec · May 21, 2007

Very nice. Its amazing how large that plume is, and how fast IO is spinning. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off </div>

Great Geyser on Io

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