Super Volcanoes Spotted on Jupiter's Moon Io

The reported eruptions took place nearly a year ago, so I'm not certain why the report is coming out just now unless it's because the results were just published.

Nature World News
Super Volcanoes Spotted on Jupiter's Moon Io
Aug 05, 2014 04:57 AM EDT

Last August was a rough month for Jupiter's moon Io. The satellite was rocked by three massive volcanoes within a two-week period.

NASA astronomers were surprised by the high volcanic activity as these eruptions are considered to be infrequent - occurring around once every one or two years. Previously, the researchers had documented just 13 giant eruptions between 1978 and 2006, space.com reported.

The latest data on the volcanic activity shows that the Io might be frequently disturbed by mega-eruptions than previously considered.

The most powerful eruption in the latest trio was one that occurred on August 29, 2013. It released a "curtain of fire" as several-miles long fissures spewed lava into space, researchers said. Two of the three eruptions took place August 15, 2013.

MORE (w/photos) at http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/8391/20140805/super-volcanoes-spotted-jupiters-moon-io.htm