2D thermal map of Loki Patera tagged posts

Maps of the temperature and lava crust age within Loki Patera, derived from the LBTO observations. The higher temperatures in the southeast (location 3) indicate that new magma was exposed most recently in this location. Credit: Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

Rare occultation of Io by Europa allows detailed infrared mapping of Loki Patera. Taking advantage of a rare orbital alignment between 2 of Jupiter’s moons, Io and Europa, researchers have obtained an exceptionally detailed map of the largest lava lake on Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system. On March 8, 2015, Europa passed in front of Io, gradually blocking out light from the volcanic moon...