Cassini spacecraft finds warmth beneath Enceladus' south pole

More evidence for subsurface ocean on Enceladus

Cassini photograph of Enceladus: October 28, 2015
(NASA/JPL)

Enceladus continues to offer up exciting new information. This icy moon of Saturn remains one of the most likely exotic places in our Solar System to support life. Since its discovery in 1789 by William Herschel, it has captivated astronomers. Over the last 40 years, space missions have targeted Saturn an its local system. Enceladus, along with other ice moons near the planet are some of the most fascinating and important. Currently, the Cassini probe is orbiting Saturn, returning compelling new information on a regular basis.  



Yesterday, March 13, 2017 and international team of astrophysicists published exciting new findings from Cassini in the journal Nature Astronomy. Using microwave RADAR technology, Cassini targeted an area close to one of the active cracks near the south pole of Enceladus. They found a warm region beneath the surface, that had never before been detected.  What this suggests is that a large ocean of warm water may be churning beneath an icy crust. It appears that this is happening within a few kilometers of the surface.

Enceladus discoveries have changed the direction of planetary science.
- Linda Spilker, Cassini Project Scientist

Enceladus may support life

Enceladus, with Titan in the background
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI)

Since 2005, we have known that Enceladus is an active moon. That year Cassini returned images showing geyser-like plumes of debris escaping from cracks neat the south pole. Cassini witnessed over 100 geysers, spraying out over 440 pounds of material per second. Jets of water vapor, ice, and debris spew with torrential force from deep beneath the frozen surface of this remote outpost. Sophisticated analysis of the ice plumes of Enceladus, including spectroscopic studies, revealed evidence of organic molecules. In the presence of heat, water, and these molecules, we suspect that life could exist on Enceladus.

Icy jets from Enceladus
(NASA/JPL), via Wikimedia Commons

Much of this ejected matter falls back to the surface -- a rocky, salty, icy snow. This fresh dusting keeps Enceladus one of the most reflective surfaces in the Solar System. The rest of the debris escapes the gravity of the planet, joining up with material from other recent and ancient eruptions, to form the E ring around Saturn. From there, some of it may get deposited on other inner moons of Saturn, including Tethys. Where else it may go is uncertain, but conceivably some of it could piggyback on an asteroid or comet, disseminating life beyond. This process is described as panspermia. Extrapolating past this may seem the realm of science fiction. With future missions, including the upcoming Europa Clipper mission to a moon of Jupiter, this is an amazing time for ice moon expeditions.


Ice Moon Station will publish more on Enceladus and other Ice Moon discoveries.
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