Enceladus – Astronomy Now

Infrared map of Enceladus shows “tiger stripes” and hints of recent resurfacing

22 September 2020 Astronomy Now

Researchers using data from the Cassini mission have put together a new global spectral map of Enceladus, a moon with icy jets spewing into space from a sub-surface ocean.

Analysis indicates Enceladus’ sub-surface ocean may be habitable

28 January 2020 Astronomy Now

A new analysis incorporating data from the Cassini mission suggests Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus may host a habitable environment in its sub-surface ocean.

Cassini ‘hears” plasma waves connecting Saturn to Enceladus

10 July 2018 Astronomy Now

Data recorded by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft shortly before it was directed to crash into Saturn at the end of its historic mission reveal powerful plasma waves moving from Saturn to its icy moon Enceladus.

Complex organics spewing from sub-surface ocean on Enceladus

29 June 2018 Astronomy Now

The late, great Cassini spacecraft detected geysers spewing from Saturn’s moon Enceladus, evidence of a vast sub-surface ocean. Now, researchers have found complex organic compounds in the icy plumes.

Taking a shine to Enceladus

3 April 2018 Astronomy Now

Saturn’s rings cast shadows on the planet’s cloud tops, providing a perfect backdrop for the brilliant sphere of the moon Enceladus in this image taken by NASA’s Cassini probe.

Hydrothermal vent experiments bring Enceladus to Earth

11 December 2017 Astronomy Now

Laboratory experiments on Earth can now simulate the conditions under which life might emerge on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, as well as other icy alien worlds, according to new research published in journal Astrobiology.

Jupiter’s moons, black holes, exoplanets among JWST’s first scientific targets

4 December 2017 Stephen Clark

The James Webb Space Telescope should start returning its first scientific results by the end of 2019, and scientists recently announced a slate of observations selected to whet the appetites of astronomers who will use the multibillion-dollar facility well into the 2020s.

Enceladus’ phantom limb

4 October 2017 Astronomy Now

The brightly lit limb of a crescent Enceladus looks ethereal against the blackness of space. The rest of the moon, lit by light reflected from Saturn, presents a ghostly appearance.

Enceladus’ jets from afar

26 July 2017 Astronomy Now

Enceladus’ intriguing south-polar jets are viewed by the Cassini probe from afar, backlit by sunlight while the moon itself glows softly in reflected Saturn-shine.

Surprise methanol detection points to evolving story of Enceladus’s plumes

4 July 2017 Astronomy Now

A serendipitous detection of the organic molecule methanol around an intriguing moon of Saturn suggests that material spewed from Enceladus undertakes a complex chemical journey once vented into space. This is the first time that a molecule from Enceladus has been detected with a ground-based telescope.