**NASA’s Remarkable Celestial Discoveries in 2024**
In 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft executed a close flyby of Jupiter’s volcanic satellite Io, soaring just 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) above its surface. The spacecraft obtained stunning images of this fiery realm, including a view of the most powerful volcano known to humans.
“The imagery is absolutely breathtaking,” remarked Ashley Davies, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, during an interview with *Mashable*.
This year, space explorations have provided incredible perspectives not only of Io, but also of Mars, the Moon, and far-off galaxies. Here’s a summary of some of the most spectacular cosmic findings and images from 2024.
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### **Juno’s Intimate Encounter with Io**
On February 3, 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft conducted one of its closest passes of Io, a moon rich in volcanic activity. Juno ventured within 930 miles of the moon, following a prior flyby in December 2023. Researchers aspire that these missions will help resolve pivotal questions regarding Io, a world boasting hundreds of active volcanoes, some so intensely hot that Juno can sense their warmth from space.
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### **An Uncommon View of Olympus Mons**
NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter, which has been operational for more than twenty years, gained a previously unseen perspective of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system. This gigantic shield volcano on Mars spans 373 miles (600 kilometers) across—approximately the size of Arizona—and rises 17 miles (27 kilometers) high, over twice the cruising altitude of commercial aircraft.
“Typically, we observe Olympus Mons in narrow strips from above, but by orienting the spacecraft toward the horizon, we can capture in a single image how immense it appears over the landscape,” explained Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey’s project scientist. The image not only offers a remarkable view but also provides essential scientific data about the Martian surface.
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### **Addressing Space Debris**
In April 2024, the Japanese satellite company Astroscale showcased a pioneering mission to tackle Earth’s increasing space debris issue. Utilizing its ADRAS-J satellite, the company approached and imaged a derelict rocket stage in Earth’s orbit. By December, the spacecraft came within 15 meters (50 feet) of the debris, demonstrating its capability to operate safely in close quarters.
This mission is part of Japan’s “Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration” initiative, aimed at devising strategies to eliminate dangerous space litter. A subsequent mission, ADRAS-J2, is scheduled for launch in 2028 to capture and dispose of the debris.
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### **Auroras Envelop Planet Earth**
In May 2024, powerful solar storms instigated some of the most vibrant auroras witnessed in many years. These geomagnetic storms, which resulted from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, produced stunning displays of northern and southern lights even in areas where they are seldom seen. U.S. weather satellites captured breathtaking photographs of the luminous auroras surrounding Earth’s poles.
“Numerous coronal mass ejections triggered an extreme geomagnetic storm, leading to spectacular auroras,” noted NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS).
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### **Japan’s Moon Lander Incident**
Japan’s SLIM spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) achieved a historic precise landing on the Moon on January 19, 2024. However, a malfunctioning thruster caused the lander to flip over upon landing, making its solar panels ineffective. Nevertheless, SLIM landed within mere meters of its objective, showcasing unprecedented precision.
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### **Ingenuity Helicopter Concludes Mission on Mars**
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, the first vehicle to achieve powered flight on another planet, was grounded in early 2024 after a rough landing. The Perseverance rover subsequently found the damaged helicopter isolated in a Martian valley. Before its mishap, Ingenuity completed 72 flights, greatly surpassing its original target of five. Its pioneering flights yielded crucial data regarding Mars’ thin atmosphere and surface conditions.
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### **A Difficult U.S. Moon Landing**
In February 2024, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander marked the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the Moon in many years. Although one of its legs broke during the descent, the mission was considered successful. The lander transmitted important scientific data, including findings related to space weather and the Moon’s surface interactions.
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### **A Total Solar Eclipse Observed from Space**
On April 8, 2024, millions of individuals across North America experienced a rare total solar eclipse. From space, U.S. satellites recorded the shadow of the Moon gliding across Earth’s surface, providing an exceptional view of this magnificent celestial phenomenon.
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### **Webb Telescope Observes a Distant Planet**
The James Webb Space Telescope accomplished a