Juno Uncovers New Cyclone and Io Eruption Details

NASA's Juno mission has revealed that Jupiter's north pole hosts a massive central cyclone encircled by eight smaller cyclones, whose clustering and movement are driven by fast-moving jet streams and a process known as 'beta drift.' The mission found the polar cap to be 11°C cooler than nearby regions, with winds surpassing 100 mph, emphasizing the planet's extreme weather. On Io, Juno detected that about 10% of the moon’s surface contains slowly cooling lava beneath its crust, helping explain rapid surface renewal and heat transport from Io’s interior. Juno also observed Io's most energetic volcanic eruption, which remains ongoing months after detection. These findings, presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, underscore the value of multi-instrument data in understanding Jupiter's system. The research advances knowledge of both Jovian atmospheric dynamics and Io's intense volcanic activity.