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Astronomy Picture of the Day- Government shutdown so no APOD Today. I will dig up some of my favorites - Global Ocean Suspected on Saturn's Enceladus
NASA ^ | 20 Sep, 2015 | Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA

Posted on 11/08/2025 1:13:41 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: Do some surface features on Enceladus roll like a conveyor belt? A leading interpretation of images taken of Saturn's most explosive moon indicate that they do. This form of asymmetric tectonic activity, very unusual on Earth, likely holds clues to the internal structure of Enceladus, which may contain subsurface seas where life might be able to develop. Pictured above is a composite of 28 images taken by the robotic Cassini spacecraft in 2008 just after swooping by the ice-spewing orb. Inspection of these images show clear tectonic displacements where large portions of the surface all appear to move all in one direction. On the image right appears one of the most prominent tectonic divides: Labtayt Sulci, a canyon about one kilometer deep. The magnitude of Enceladus' wobble as it orbits Saturn might indicate damping by a globally extending underground ocean layer.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; enceladus; nasa; saturn

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1 posted on 11/08/2025 1:13:41 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 11/08/2025 1:14:42 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

3 posted on 11/08/2025 1:15:30 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber
Thank you.


4 posted on 11/08/2025 1:26:44 PM PST by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: MtnClimber

Oooo! That’s pretty. Sure looks like water could’ve done that.


5 posted on 11/08/2025 1:37:09 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MtnClimber

Great, now I’m hungry for some enceladus.


6 posted on 11/08/2025 1:54:00 PM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: Diogenesis

Looks like what water under pressure does when a crack forms.


7 posted on 11/08/2025 1:56:34 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Journey to the Center of Enceladus.


8 posted on 11/08/2025 2:22:52 PM PST by NavyShoe
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To: MtnClimber

Beauty!


9 posted on 11/08/2025 2:27:33 PM PST by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: SunkenCiv

The APOD photo looks like my first time attempting to front s cake.


10 posted on 11/08/2025 3:13:13 PM PST by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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