Cassini observes the active south pole of Enceladus.
Science
; 311(5766): 1393-401, 2006 Mar 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16527964
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 14 secondary spin/orbit resonance.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Saturn
Language:
En
Journal:
Science
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States