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F. Bagenal (LASP, University of Colorado), HST8 Io Campaign Team
Io plays a central role in the Jovian system, yet the mechanisms that couple its volcanoes, the tenuous atmosphere, the escaping corona and the plasma torus remain elusive. In 1999 there is the unique opportunity to combine HST observations with the Galileo close flybys of Io. A team comprising 40 experienced Io observers, modellers and theorists have come together to undertake a campaign of HST observations that will address 4 critical issues concerning Io's enigmatic behavior:
o What do the compositions of plumes and surface deposits reveal about Io's volcanism?
o How is Io's SO2 atmosphere affected by volcanic activity?
o How does Io's atmosphere interact with the surrounding plasma environment? What are the unidentified atmospheric emitters detected by Galileo?
o What powers the Io torus emissions?
Our team is performing 30 orbits of HST observations using WFPC2 and STIS to address these 4 tasks. On their own these HST observations will answer many issues of the emissions from Io's surface and plumes, atmosphere, corona and plasma torus. The synergy of combined HST and Galileo observations provides a powerful scientific opportunity that will not be repeated in the foreseeable future.