Close Encounter: NASA Spacecraft Captures Stunning Footage of Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io

NASA's Juno spacecraft, orbiting Jupiter, has captured some of the clearest images ever taken of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io. The spacecraft recently made its 55th journey around Jupiter, coming within 7,270 miles of Io's surface. The images show dark splotches indicating lava flows, volcanoes rising from the moon's surface, and a possible volcanic plume. Juno will make even closer passes by Io in December and January. Io's volcanic activity is a result of being continuously stretched and squeezed by the gravitational forces of Jupiter and its neighboring moons.