Jupiter's moon has more volcanoes than Earth

Jupiter's moon Io shouldn't be hot, but its surface is a hellscape of liquid sulfur and erupting magma. It is the most geologically active object in our solar system, boasting over 400 active volcanoes.

Unlike Earth, where heat is primarily left over from its formation and radioactive decay, Io's intense heat is generated by gravitational forces. Io is caught in a gravitational tug-of-war between Jupiter and two other moons, Europa and Ganymede. This constant pulling stretches and squeezes the solid rock of Io like a piece of silly putty.

This friction generates intense internal heat through a process called tidal heating. The resulting pressure is so great that volcanic plumes shoot 300 miles above the surface, literally leaking matter into space.

These eruptions create a giant donut-shaped cloud of radiation around Jupiter. The lava on Io is so hot it reaches 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly hotter than any lava found on modern Earth.

Because of the heavy sulfur deposits, the moon's surface doesn't look like rock; it looks like a rotting pepperoni pizza covered in yellow, green, and red splotches.