Cassini spacecraft records water‑ice plumes from Enceladus

USA: Cassini spacecraft records water‑ice plumes from Enceladus

Scientists analyzing data from the Cassini spacecraft have confirmed the presence of both large and small plumes of water ice erupting from multiple sites along the so‑called “tiger stripes” near the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Observation Details

The imaging instruments captured the plumes as they sprayed fine ice particles into space, creating a striking visual contrast against the moon’s dark terrain. The eruptions were observed over several flybys, indicating a persistent activity pattern.

Geological Context

Enceladus’s tiger stripes are linear fractures that extend for dozens of kilometers. Researchers associate the plumes with subsurface reservoirs of liquid water that are forced upward through these fissures, releasing ice grains into the exosphere.

Mission Background

Cassini entered orbit around Saturn in 2004 and conducted more than 300 close encounters with Enceladus before the mission concluded in 2017. The spacecraft’s high‑resolution cameras and spectrometers provided the data used for the current analysis.

Scientific Implications

The detection of water‑ice plumes supports the hypothesis that Enceladus harbors a subsurface ocean, a finding that has significant implications for astrobiological studies. The composition of the ejected material will be examined to assess the presence of organic compounds.

Future Research

NASA plans to incorporate the plume observations into the design of upcoming missions, such as the proposed Enceladus Orbilander, which would aim to sample the ejected particles directly.

Dieser Bericht basiert auf Informationen von NASA, lizenziert unter Public Domain (U.S. Government Work).