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PSI Senior Scientist Jeff Morgenthaler set up a new observatory near Tucson to use changes in volcanic activity on Io to measure properties of Jupiter’s magnetosphere. A major goal of the project is to learn why ionized material from Io sticks close to Jupiter, rather than being flung out by Jupiter’s rapid rotation.
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The Io Input/Output observatory (IoIO) uses a very bright emission line of neutral sodium to monitor material leaving Io and entering Jupiter’s magnetosphere. A bright emission line of ionized sulfur is used to monitor material in Jupiter’s magnetosphere. The bright, extended nature of these emissions make them easily accessible to small-aperture telescopes developed for the high-end amateur astronomy market.
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The IoIO is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation to the Planetary Science Institute.
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Above, Jeff Morgenthaler poses with the telescope in its new home.
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Below, the telescope is set up to be operated remotely.
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Below, the Southern Arizona site where the IoIO observatory is located.
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