Enceladus Ice Geysers
Explanation:
Ice geysers erupt on
Enceladus,
bright and shiny inner moon of Saturn.
Shown in
this
false-color image, a backlit view of the moon's southern
limb, the majestic, icy plumes were
discovered by
instruments on the Cassini Spacecraft during close encounters
with Enceladus in November of 2005.
Eight source locations
for these geysers have now been identified
along substantial
surface fractures
in the moon's south polar region.
Researchers suspect the
geysers
arise from near-surface
pockets of liquid water with
temperatures
near 273 kelvins (0 degrees C).
That's hot when compared to the distant
moon's surface temperature of 73 kelvins (-200 degrees C).
The
cryovolcanism
is a dramatic sign that tiny,
500km-diameter Enceladus is
surprisingly active.
Enceladus ice geysers also likely produce Saturn's faint but extended E
ring.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
