Io’s Atmosphere ‘Collapses’ When in Jupiter’s Shadow

The thin atmosphere on Jupiter’s volcanic moon, Io, “collapses” when the moon enters the gas giant’s shadow, according to a new study. Writing in the Journal of Geophysical Research, scientists from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, say the thin atmosphere freezes when the sun's light is blocked. Io is the solar system’s most volcanic body. The volcanoes are caused by the constant push and pull of Jupiter’s gravity, and when they erupt, they spew large amounts...

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