Mysterious Heat Source on Enceladus |
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Written by spacetravel.org
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Wednesday, 31 August 2005 22:43 |
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Scientists have discovered that an unexplained heat source lies below the surface of Enceladus, one of Saturns moons, after studying data collected by the Cassini spacecraft during flybys on February 17 and March 19, 2005.
Cassinis images show a series of fault lines around the moons south pole, where jets of gas, ice and dust particles appear to be shooting out. Scientists do not understand exactly how this heat is being created, as gravitational tidal forces and radioactive decay are currently thought to be the only ways for planetary bodies to heat themselves internally, and on Enceladus, neither of these appear to be are strong enough to generate the effects that have been measured.
The readings also show that Enceladus atmosphere is made mostly of water vapour, and that both the atmosphere and the moon itself contain methane and other organic compounds.
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