Io is one of the natural satellites of Jupiter (the innermost) and on its surface they exist more than 300 active volcanoes. Currently, NASA’s Juno probe has its “ears” pointed at the moon waiting to hear the “strange” radio waves of the celestial body.
Since Io is very close to Jupiter, the planet’s gravitational pull causes the satellite to create gigantic internal heat, which has led to hundreds of volcanic eruptions on the lunar surface. Volcanoes, in fact, release 1 ton of gas and particles per second into space. Subsequently, some of this material (which is divided into ions and electrons) falls on Jupiter.
The electrons captured in the magnetic field are accelerated towards the poles of Jupiter and, along the way, they generate a phenomenon that scientists call “decametric radio waves”. When the Juno spacecraft is in the right place to listen to them, the Juno’s Waves instrument can pick up these radio waves.
Using the spacecraft the researchers they can find out where the radio emissions come from in the enormous magnetic field of Jupiter. The data, among other things, can help experts shed light on the behavior of the huge magnetic fields created by gas giants. According to the data, the electrons that create these radio waves emit a huge amount of energy. 23 times greater than expected by researchers.