Posted on 08/08/2014 4:40:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Why does Enceladus have ice plumes? The discovery of jets spewing water vapor and ice was detected by the Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft in 2005. The origin of the water feeding the jets, however, remained a topic of research. A leading hypothesis held that the source might originate from a deep underground sea, but another hypothesis indicated that it might just be ice melted off walls of deep rifts by the moon's tidal flexing and heating. Pictured above, the textured surface of Enceladus is visible in the foreground, while rows of plumes rise from ice fractures in the distance. These jets are made more visible by the Sun angle and the encroaching shadow of night. Recent study of over a hundred images like this -- of geysers crossing Enceladus' South Pole, together with regional heat maps, indicate that these plumes likely originate from a hidden sea, incresaing the chance that this frosty globe might be harboring life.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA]
Unpossible. I was informed by a resident FR loon that there is no ice or water in the solar system other than on earth.
:’)
Wait a second... I thought *I* was the resident FR loon... dammit.
Its all static to me. lol
I had some good enceladus the other day
Great, bad enough they’re causing climate change here — look at those greenhouse-gas spewing SUV’s coming over the horizon ....
That is a very cool picture.
Looks like our graduation night kegger behind Henderson’s Hill.
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