ARE THERE ANY VOLCANOES IN SPACE?

Yes. Within our Solar System, the Moon and Mars are rich with evidence of volcanoes and fiery volcanic activity, while other bodies possess volcanoes that spew ice from their frozen vistas. Now volcanically inert, the surface of the Moon once hosted spectacular eruptions that created large lava flows. Aside from Earth, Mars is host to even more volcanic features than our planet. Primary among these is Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System at over twice the height of Mount Everest. Venus has lava flows that cover up to 90 per cent of its surface, with up to 1,600 major volcanoes and as many as a million smaller ones.

But currently, the most volcanic body in the Solar System is Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, caused by the huge gravitational influence of the gas giant deforming the tiny moon.