Io’s atmosphere turns into frost in Jupiter’s shadow
AUG 03, 2016
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029998
Science : During its orbit of Jupiter every 42 hours, the moon Io takes about two hours to pass through the gas giant’s shadow. In that time the temperature on the surface cools from –146 °C to –168 °C. Astronomers have used a ground-based IR telescope and observed that during that period roughly 80% of Io’s primarily sulfur dioxide atmosphere turns to frost and settles onto the moon’s surface. When Io moves out of Jupiter’s shadow, the frost turns back into gas.
© 2016 American Institute of Physics
