Incredible new images from Jupiter show volcanic eruption

NASA said the pictures have impressed scientists with never-before-seen perspectives of the giant planet's atmosphere, rings, and moons, including a volcanic eruption

The new views included the closest look yet at the Earth-sized "Little Red Spot" storm, churning materials through Jupiter's cloud tops.

One of the large moons, named "Io", is thought to be the most volcanically active body in the solar system, and scientists say the pictures from New Horizons show a volcanic eruption taking place.

The piano-sized robotic probe's seven cameras revealed an umbrella-shaped plume rising 200 miles into space from the volcano Tvashtar.

"It's really exciting that it performed for us," said John Spencer of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

"Galileo was orbiting for six years and we never saw plumes like that," he said, referring to an earlier mission.

The probe also revealed a mystery volcano, so young its lava has just reached Io's surface, but has yet to emit enough gas to produce a plume.

"We're seeing the birth of a new volcano here," Spencer said.

In about eight years, the mission will produce the closest-ever views of Pluto and the hundreds of other icy objects in the distant Kuiper belt region.

But for now, the NASA scientists are happy with the test drive.

"I think we're ready to rock and roll." Stern said.

New Horizons reached Jupiter thirteen months after lifting off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, in January 2006 and is expected to reach Pluto in 2015.