A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe. A lava lake was also discovered a few months back.

Now another volcanic moon has been discovered, located beyond our solar system. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have found a similar object orbiting an exoplanet named WASP-49 b, which is about the size of Saturn. It is located 635 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;

The team noticed a sodium cloud in the vicinity of WASP-49 b. This was enough to suggest that a natural satellite, also known as an exomoon, was orbiting it.&nbsp;

Multiple exomoon candidates had been identified in the past, including one near WASP-49 b. However, one has never been confirmed. Experts say that signs of volcanic activity may be the key to unveiling such objects since they are too small and dim to spot using modern telescopes, according to a statement from NASA.&nbsp;

"For example, Io, the most volcanic body in our solar system, constantly spews sulfur dioxide, sodium, potassium and other gasses that can form vast clouds around Jupiter up to 1,000 times the giant planet's radius," NASA officials said in the statement.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-crack-the-code-reveal-what-transported-seeds-of-life-to-earth-766842">Scientists crack the code, reveal what transported seeds of life to Earth</a>

"It's possible that astronomers looking at another star system could detect a gas cloud like Io's even if the moon itself were too small to see."&nbsp;

<h2>Cloud of gas above exoplanet</h2>

European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile saw that the cloud around WASP-49 b sits high above the planet's atmosphere. This was similar to the cloud of gas that Io produces around Jupiter.

The cloud was also found to be filled with sodium, was showing sudden changes in size and moving a lot faster than the planet. This hinted that it is a separate body orbiting the planet.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, both WASP-49 b and its star mostly contain only hydrogen and helium. But the cloud seems to be coming from a source that is releasing roughly 100,000 kilogrammes of sodium per second, NASA said in the statement.&nbsp;

"We think this is a really critical piece of evidence," Apurva Oza, lead author of the study and a staff scientist at the California Institute of Technology, which manages JPL, said in the statement. "The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet's atmosphere."

The cloud also does not align with the planet's 2.8-Earth-day orbital cycle. However, more observations are needed to confirm the existence of the exomoon.

A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe.

A volcanic moon has just been discovered in space. Till now, the most volcanic system has only been known to exist in our solar system. Jupiter's moon lo is the most volcanic object in the known universe. A lava lake was also discovered a few months back. Now another volcanic moon has been discovered, located beyond our solar system. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California have found a similar object orbiting an exoplanet named WASP-49 b, which is about the size of Saturn. It is located 635 light-years from Earth. The team noticed a sodium cloud in the vicinity of WASP-49 b. This was enough to suggest that a natural satellite, also known as an exomoon, was orbiting it. Multiple exomoon candidates had been identified in the past, including one near WASP-49 b. However, one has never been confirmed. Experts say that signs of volcanic activity may be the key to unveiling such objects since they are too small and dim to spot using modern telescopes, according to a statement from NASA. "For example, Io, the most volcanic body in our solar system, constantly spews sulfur dioxide, sodium, potassium and other gasses that can form vast clouds around Jupiter up to 1,000 times the giant planet's radius," NASA officials said in the statement. Also Read: Scientists crack the code, reveal what transported seeds of life to Earth "It's possible that astronomers looking at another star system could detect a gas cloud like Io's even if the moon itself were too small to see." Cloud of gas above exoplanet European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile saw that the cloud around WASP-49 b sits high above the planet's atmosphere. This was similar to the cloud of gas that Io produces around Jupiter. The cloud was also found to be filled with sodium, was showing sudden changes in size and moving a lot faster than the planet. This hinted that it is a separate body orbiting the planet. Meanwhile, both WASP-49 b and its star mostly contain only hydrogen and helium. But the cloud seems to be coming from a source that is releasing roughly 100,000 kilogrammes of sodium per second, NASA said in the statement. "We think this is a really critical piece of evidence," Apurva Oza, lead author of the study and a staff scientist at the California Institute of Technology, which manages JPL, said in the statement. "The cloud is moving in the opposite direction that physics tells us it should be going if it were part of the planet's atmosphere." The cloud also does not align with the planet's 2.8-Earth-day orbital cycle. However, more observations are needed to confirm the existence of the exomoon.

Another lo in space? A cloud of gas hints at first exomoon bursting with volcanoes

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has been a topic of fascination among astronomers for decades. A whopping 95 Jupiter moons have been officially discovered and recognised to date.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has been a topic of fascination among astronomers for decades. A whopping 95 Jupiter moons have been officially discovered and recognised to date. These moons have generated an equal amount of interest, especially lo, the one that sees intense volcanic activity. Juno, the NASA spacecraft orbiting Jupiter, has captured some extremely close images of Jupiter's tortured moon, Io, the most volcanic world in our solar system. These images are unlike anything you have ever seen and might even give you the shivers. Juno, on December 30, was just some 930 miles (1.500 kilometres) away from Jupiter's volcanic moon. Juno has moved progressively closer to Io over the last year. In space terms, this distance is quite close, only three times farther than the Hubble telescope orbits Earth. On Dec. 30, our #JunoMission made its closest-ever approach to Jupiter’s moon Io, soaring about 930 miles (1,500 km) above the solar system’s most volcanic world. Juno captured Io’s molten surface and will return for another look in February: https://t.co/UnZpyaFMsC pic.twitter.com/NO4iGndmZ0 — NASA (@NASA) January 2, 2024 × Juno survived the extreme radiation around the gas giant to make the near pass and captured impressive images of volcanoes on Jupiter's volcano-blanketed moon. Such high levels of radiation could damage the spacecraft's instruments. For example, a radiation surge during an Io flyby caused the loss of some pictures in 2022. In 2016, NASA's Alas arrived around Jupiter and endured after following a 1,740-million-mile journey. Professional and amateur image processors working for NASA or related space research programmes have processed the images sent by NASA's Juno, removing the noise and distortion. Over the two decades, these images are the closest views of Io captured. About NASA's Juno Juno has performed 56 flybys of Jupiter, documenting close encounters with three of its four largest moons. Juno's principal investigator, Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, said, "By combining data from this flyby with our previous observations, the Juno science team is studying how Io's volcanoes vary." ALSO READ | Perihelion Day 2024: When Earth is closest to the Sun | All you need to know about astronomical event Using Juno, researchers will study Io's volcanoes, including their eruption frequencies, brightness, temperatures, and changes in the shape of the lava flow. They will also use the spacecraft to study how Io's activity connects to the flow of charged particles in Jupiter's magnetosphere. Juno will make another close flyby on February 3. Juno is a part of NASA's New Frontiers Program, managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Researchers at NASA will also use Juno to find the source of Io's massive volcanic activity. They will also study the significance of tidal forces from Jupiter, which relentlessly squeeze the tortured moon. NASA's spacecraft has been watching Io's volcanic activities from distances ranging from about 6,830 miles (11,000 kilometres) to over 62,100 miles (100,000 kilometres). Juo gave the first glimpse of the moon's north and south poles. It has also made close flybys of Jupiter's icy moons, Ganymede and Europa. (With inputs from agencies)

These closest-ever photos of Jupiter's moon blasting lava will give you cold shivers

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