Dark Volcano Active on Io
			
		
		
		
			The surface of 
Io 
is changing even as we watch.  The inset frame of 
Jupiter's 
most active moon was taken 
by the robot spacecraft 
Galileo in April.  
Just last month the 
larger image was taken.  The new large black spot reveals that a 
volcano named 
Pillan Patera 
has been erupting during the interim.  A vast moonscape
roughly the size of 
Arizona 
has just been covered by some dark material.  What is this material?
It's composition remains unknown although it is certainly 
different in color from the red material seen surrounding volcano 
Pele on the upper left.