News Planetary Science

Baby Jupiter glowed so brightly it might have desiccated its moon

The findings could aid the search for icy moons orbiting planets outside the solar system

A photo of Jupiter with its moons Io and Europa seen in front.

A nascent, coruscant Jupiter may have vaporized water from the surfaces of its moons, Io (shown on the left) and Europa (right).

JPL/NASA

By Nikk Ogasa

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — A young, ultrabright Jupiter may have desiccated its now hellish moon Io. The planet’s bygone brilliance could have also vaporized water on Europa and Ganymede, planetary scientist Carver Bierson reported March 17 at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.