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Cassini observes the active south pole of Enceladus.
- Source :
-
Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2006 Mar 10; Vol. 311 (5766), pp. 1393-401. - Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Cassini has identified a geologically active province at the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus. In images acquired by the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), this region is circumscribed by a chain of folded ridges and troughs at approximately 55 degrees S latitude. The terrain southward of this boundary is distinguished by its albedo and color contrasts, elevated temperatures, extreme geologic youth, and narrow tectonic rifts that exhibit coarse-grained ice and coincide with the hottest temperatures measured in the region. Jets of fine icy particles that supply Saturn's E ring emanate from this province, carried aloft by water vapor probably venting from subsurface reservoirs of liquid water. The shape of Enceladus suggests a possible intense heating epoch in the past by capture into a 1:4 secondary spin/orbit resonance.
- Subjects :
- Extraterrestrial Environment chemistry
Spacecraft
Spectrum Analysis
Saturn
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-9203
- Volume :
- 311
- Issue :
- 5766
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Science (New York, N.Y.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16527964
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1123013