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We wouldn't recommend going to Io this time of year. Or any time of year, for that matter. The same size and density as Earth's moon, Io was discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and is now known to be the innermost moon of Jupiter. Dozens of active volcanoes dot Io's landscape, which also features frosty plains, lakes of molten sulfur, and volcanic rings the size of California. The volcanoes themselves are the hottest spots in the solar system (not counting the sun) with temperatures exceeding 1,800 degrees Kelvin. That's around 2,780 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature is much colder, though -- around 143 degrees below zero. What's the
weather like? We suggest you check for yourself. With a good pair of binoculars, Io is relatively easy to spot in the night sky. Or, if you'd like a closer look at the weather on Io over Thanksgiving, NASA's Galileo spacecraft recently completed the closest-ever encounter with the moon. The satellite recorded some pretty amazing snap shots of volcanic eruptions.
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