Posted on 03/12/2008 7:47:52 AM PDT by dead
LOS ANGELES — Three years after gigantic geysers were spied on an icy Saturn moon, the international Cassini spacecraft is poised to plunge through the fringes of the mysterious plumes to learn how they formed.
Wednesday's flyby will take Cassini within 30 miles of the surface of Enceladus at closest approach.
A false-color image from the Cassini spacecraft showing jets of fine icy particles erupting from the south polar region of Enceladus.
The unmanned probe will be about 120 miles above the moon as it sweeps through the edge of the geysers and measures their chemical makeup.
Scientists long believed Enceladus, the shiniest object in the solar system, was cold and still because it resides hundreds of millions of miles from the sun.
But recent evidence shows the Arizona-size satellite is geologically active, with a significant atmosphere and a relatively warm south pole.
In 2005, Cassini surprised scientists when it snapped images of geyser-like eruptions of ice particles and water vapor spewing from the south pole.
The dramatic images effectively put Enceladus (en-SELL'-uh-duhs) on the short list of places within the solar system most likely to have conditions suitable for extraterrestrial life.
Scientists generally agree the presence of water, organic compounds and a stable heat source are needed to support primitive life.
Until now, scientists have not been able to measure the plumes' makeup in detail. Using its particle analyzers, Cassini will calculate the density, size and speed of the various gases and particles. The spacecraft's cameras will also image the moon during the flyby.
Of particular interest is whether the plumes contain ammonia, which can keep water in liquid form and would bolster the theory that liquid water lies beneath.
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30 miles.. 30 MILES? Wow, I am amazed we can do such things. 30 miles, in the grand scheme of things, is a razor thin margin. This should produce some great images.
Yeah. I noticed that too, but it’s “only” the size of Arizona, so there won’t be as much gravitational pull as we are used to thinking about when we say, “moon”.
Still, though, I agree we ought to be able to get some pretty sensational pictures.
kewlness bump
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I thought this was a bad porn title thread?
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