NASA's Juno interplanetary station is to make a record approach to the solar system's most volcanically active body today

Today, the interplanetary station Juno will approach Jupiter's satellite Io at a record-breaking short distance. It is the most volcanically active body in our star system.

Here's What We Know

The more than $1 billion probe was launched into space in late summer 2011. It arrived in the Jupiter system in July 2016. On 29 September last year, its orbital period was shortened to 38 days following a rendezvous with the satellite Europa. Convergence with Io will reduce the orbital period to 32 days. The spacecraft will fly at a distance of about 35,500 km from the cosmic body.

In terms of size, Io is slightly larger than the Moon. That said, Jupiter's satellite is considered to be the most volcanic body in the solar system. This is due to the gravitational pull of Jupiter and its massive moons, which deforms Io and provokes volcanic eruptions.

Juno was designed to study the largest planet in the solar system. The spacecraft remained operational after the mission ended, so scientists sent it to explore Jupiter's most massive moons.

The interplanetary station will continue to approach Io. Next year, Juno will fly just 1,500km away from the surface of the volcanic satellite.

Source: NASA