Io was discovered by Galileo Galilei on January, 1610 using a 20x-power, refracting telescope at the University of Padua. Io is one of the most volcanically active object in the solar system.

Io gets the name of a character from Greek mythology. Io was one of Zeus' many maidens that he took a fancy (in Roman mythology, Zeus is identified with Jupiter). This name was suggested by the astronomer Simon Marius soon after its discovery, but it was not used until the mid-twentieth century.

Learn more about Io at Wikipedia or visit the recommended links.

Further Reading

• Marble Maps
• Wikipedia - Io (moon)
• Map-A-Planet - Io
• Geologic Map of Io
• Io Overview (NASA)

Text based on Wikipedia,
License: CC-by-SA 3.0
License of the map: Public Domain