Distant planet may host volcanic moon like Jupiter's Io

Have Scientists Found a Volcanic Moon Outside Our Solar System? 🌋🌌 A massive gas cloud 635 light-years away might be pointing us to something we've never confirmed before: a volcanic exomoon. Orbiting the Saturn-sized exoplanet WASP-49 b, this mysterious sodium cloud is ejecting more than 220,000 pounds of gas per second—far more than the planet or its star should be capable of. So where is it coming from? NASA researchers think the answer could be a volcanic moon, much like Jupiter’s fiery moon Io—the most volcanically active body in our solar system. On Io, volcanic activity launches gas into space, creating massive clouds that drift around Jupiter. It’s possible the same process is happening around WASP-49 b. What’s wild? The cloud appears to move independently of the planet—sometimes faster, sometimes opposite to its expected motion—something only another orbiting body could explain. Plus, the cloud seems to "refuel" and grow suddenly, even when it’s not near the planet. If confirmed, this would be the first volcanic exomoon ever discovered—and one that may not last forever. The intense tidal forces from WASP-49 b could eventually rip it apart. We may not be able to see the moon directly, but through its volcanic breath, we’re catching a glimpse of something extraordinary. We’re one step closer to proving exomoons exist—and some might be erupting with clues about other worlds. #Exoplanets #Exomoon #NASA #SpaceNews #VolcanicMoon #Astrophysics #WASP49b #IoMoon #TidalVolcanism #SpaceDiscovery #AstroResearch #ScienceExplained 💬 Follow for more cosmic discoveries that rewrite what we know about the universe.