All Right, Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready for my Close-Up
Saturn’s tiny, icy moon Enceladus has recently been visited by NASA’s Cassini orbiter on several very close approaches – once coming within a mere 25 kilometers (15 miles) of the surface. Scientists are learning a great deal about this curious little moon. Only about 500 kilometers wide (310 miles), it is very active, emitting internal heat, churning its surface, and – through cryovolcanism – ejecting masses of microscopic ice particles into Saturnian orbit. Cassini has been orbiting Saturn for over 4 years now, and has provided some amazing views of tiny Enceladus, some collected here. Another close flyby is scheduled for Halloween, October 31st. (26 photos total)
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Comment from Gilded
Time: October 28, 2008, 8:32 am
Astonishing pictures. Cryovolcanism in itself is pretty cool (argh) but Enceladus is also the most reflective moon in the solar system, if I remember correctly, and judging from those pictures I don’t doubt it. Its definitely got that classic scifi ice planet look.