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Credit & Copyright: Michael Carroll
Explanation:
In this stunning Saturnian vista - one in a series of
artist's visions of
volcanos on alien worlds - icy geysers erupt
along narrow fractures in inner moon
Enceladus.
The majestic plumes were actually
discovered by
instruments on the Cassini Spacecraft during close encounters
with bright and shiny Enceladus last year.
Researchers now suspect the
plumes originate from near-surface
pockets of liquid water with
temperatures
near 273 kelvins (0 degrees C) - hot when compared to the distant
moon's surface temperature of 73 kelvins (-200 degrees C).
A dramatic sign that tiny, 500km-diameter Enceladus is
surprisingly
active, these ice volcanos hold out another potential
site in the search for water and origin of life beyond planet Earth.
Enceladus' ice
volcanos also likely produce
Saturn's faint but extended E
ring.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Enceladus - volcano - Saturn
Publications with words: Enceladus - volcano - Saturn
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 8 Á Aurora around Saturns North Pole
- Saturn at Night
- APOD: 2024 August 27 Á Moon Eclipses Saturn
- APOD: 2024 August 25 Á Fresh Tiger Stripes on Saturns Enceladus
- APOD: 2024 June 23 Á The Colors of Saturn from Cassini
- APOD: 2024 April 22 Á Moon and Smoke Rings from Mt Etna
- Crescent Enceladus