I33 SSI Objectives
The SSI objectives for the I33 flyby are:
- The I33 flyby of Io represents the first opportunity to observe the subjovian
hemisphere at high resolution (meters to tens of meters per picture element)
since the beginning of the Galileo Mission to Jupiter (December 1995). This
hemisphere was last observed by the Voyager spacecraft in 1979, where the
best resolution was hundreds of meters per pixel. This will be the last opportunity
to observe Io up close for possibly decades.
- The I33 flyby will obtain high resolution (15-100 m/pixel) observations
of several large lava flow fields, some of which are thought to be associated
with ultramafic (high-temperature, magnesium-rich) silicate eruptions. These
observations may provide clues to the styles of these eruptions, which last
occurred on Earth millions to billions of years ago. Thus, the I33 imaging
is crucial to obtain a better understanding of a style of volcanism that was
important on the ancient Earth.
- The I33 flyby will obtain high resolution (15-100 m/pixel) observations
of several large volcanoes called tholi, which are shaped like pancakes and
resemble domes from some terrestrial silica-rich volcanoes. These tholi are
rare on Io, and their study could provide clues into the diversity of Io's
volcanism.
- The I33 flyby will obtain high resolution (<20 m/pixel) images of the
volcano Pele at night. This observation will allows constraints to be placed
on the form of the vent of this active volcano, as well as constrain the temperature
of its eruptions.
- The I33 flyby will obtain high resolution (~100 m/pixel) observations of
Hi'iaka, Gish Bar, and several other of Io's enigmatic mountains. These observations
will improve our understanding of the relationship between volcanism, tectonism,
and mountain formation on Io.
Information on SSI observations currently planned can be found here.
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