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NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently captured a rare image of Thebe, a small moon orbiting Jupiter. Taken as Juno flew close to the gas giant, the photograph shows Thebe at the frame’s edge. The moon is the second largest of Jupiter’s inner moons, captured on camera on May 1. The image was taken using the Stellar Reference Unit, known for its sensitivity in low-light conditions. Thebe, discovered during the Voyager 1 mission in 1980, is one of four small natural satellites orbiting inside Io’s path, a larger moon with active volcanoes.
Thebe plays a role in forming Jupiter’s faint “gossamer” rings. Scientists think meteors hitting Thebe and another moon, Amalthea, cause rocks and dust to eject into space, forming the rings. Thebe has a notable feature, Zethus crater, nearly half its width, and orbits Jupiter every 16 hours at a distance of 138,000 miles. Juno has orbited Jupiter for nearly a decade, studying the planet’s origins and moons. While its main mission is done, Juno now examines the entire system, continuing until it eventually degrades and falls into Jupiter, ensuring no moon contamination.
Elisha Sauers, a space reporter for Mashable, covers NASA’s missions, engaging with astronauts and discovering critical milestones. Her work has been recognized with state and national awards. Follow her latest space insights online.