Saturn’s brood had grown, as Moon No. 60 joined the eclectic collection with observations and images collected from spacecraft Cassini.
Observations shows us Enceladus, one of the brightest objects in the solar system, with an active plume spewing water spaceward, as well as a hot spot of thermal activity at it’s South pole. Scientists looking at photos taken by Cassini reported last year that geysers of water were shooting out of Enceladus’s South Pole. It was further reported to have some force melting ice inside its core. It is only 300 miles wide, so any possibility of molten core, like earth, is ruled out.
NASA announced on Wednesday that Spacecraft Cassini will witness its closest flyby with Enceladus scheduled in March next year.
Before flying through the plume of stream emanating from its South Pole, Cassini will approach within 19 miles of Enceladus, moving in it’s most precarious trajectory. NASA plans a closer encounter in order to explore the force that is pouring out jets of blasting water and ice crystals near the South Pole.
Enceladus became the centre of curiosity as it holds a mystery about its source of heat, believed to be the force evaporating some water. There is a possibility that hot water geysers, like those on earth, may exist there and hence increases the hope for biological habitat on the moon.
Originally, Cassini was not designed to fly this close. But, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, US, are calculating whether it’s safe to go nearer. Although, spacecraft will not help in detecting the presence of biological life, but include instruments to detect the chemical make-up of plume and possibility of methane, ammonia and other substances.
Scientists at NASA will try to solve the mystery behind the creation of one of Saturn’s most humble moons hidden amid its glorious rings.
Image Credit: BPS
Via: MSNBC
