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Science Saturn's Enceladus: A lot of activity for such a small moon
Science Saturn's Enceladus: A lot of activity for such a small moon | Saturn's Enceladus: A lot of activity for such a small moon |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Wednesday, 17 December 2008 | |
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Page 3 of 3 Carolyn Proco, of the Cassini imaging team (Space Science Institute at Boulder, Colorado), states, "Of all the geologic provinces in the Saturn system that Cassini has explored, none has been more thrilling or carries greater implications than the region at the southernmost portion of Enceladus.” Featured Whitepaper
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Science DiscussionsHelfenstein added, "Enceladus has asymmetric spreading on steroids. We are not certain about the geological mechanisms that control the spreading, but we see patterns of divergence and mountain-building similar to what we see on Earth, which suggests that subsurface heat and convection are involved." NASA states, “Images from recent close flybys also have bolstered an idea the Cassini imaging team has that condensation from the jets erupting from the surface may create ice plugs that close off old vents and force new vents to open." And, "The opening and clogging of vents also corresponds with measurements indicating the plume varies from month to month and year to year.” Porco explains, "We see no obvious distinguishing markings on the surface in the immediate vicinity of each jet source, which suggests that the vents may open and close and thus migrate up and down the fractures over time. Over time, the particles that rain down onto the surface from the jets may form a continuous blanket of snow along a fracture." The Cassini scientific team conjecture that the excess heat emerging from the south polar region of Enceladus, along with plenty of water vapor and organic compounds, could hold a habitable zone for microscopic life beneath the moon’s south pole. We'll know more as Cassini continues its investigation of Saturn and its moons. |
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