National Aeronautics and Space Administration Logo
Follow this link to skip to the main content NASA Banner
Solar System Exploration
Return to Solar System Exploration
 
Facebook Twitter YouTube Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr iTunes
Follow Us
Top 10 Science Images

Galileo Image Gallery
Top 10 Science Images

The following 10 images document the most significant discoveries of the Galileo mission.

Prev      1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10      Next

Volcanic Eruptions Seen on Io While in Eclipse
Click here for larger image

Volcanic Eruptions Seen on Io While in Eclipse

These views of Jupiter's moon Io in the eclipse of the large planet's shadow are color coded so that blue to yellow to red represents increasing brightness. The bright spots indicate the locations of volcanic vents on lo, which are spewing hot lava. This image and other data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft indicate that the lava at Pillan Patera (the brightest spot) exceeded 1,700 degrees Kelvin (2,600 degrees Fahrenheit) and may have reached 2,000 degrees Kelvin (3,140 degrees Fahrenheit). The hottest eruptions on Earth today reach temperatures of about 1,500 Kelvin (2,240 degrees Fahrenheit), but hotter lava erupted billions of years ago.

TRT -
Supers - Video courtesy of NASA
Center Contact - DC Agle, 818/393-9011
HQ Contact - Donald Savage, 202/358-1727

Prev      1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10      Next

Awards and Recognition   Solar System Exploration Roadmap   Contact Us   Site Map   Print This Page
NASA Official: Kristen Erickson
Advisory: Dr. James Green, Director of Planetary Science
Outreach Manager: Alice Wessen
Curator/Editor: Phil Davis
Science Writers: Courtney O'Connor and Bill Dunford
Producer: Greg Baerg
Webmaster: David Martin
> NASA Science Mission Directorate
> Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
> Equal Employment Opportunity Data
   Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act
> Information-Dissemination Policies and Inventories
> Freedom of Information Act
> Privacy Policy & Important Notices
> Inspector General Hotline
> Office of the Inspector General
> NASA Communications Policy
> USA.gov
> ExpectMore.gov
> NASA Advisory Council
> Open Government at NASA
Last Updated: 28 Jun 2010