Cassini encounters Enceladus: background and the discovery of a south polar hot spot

Science
J R SpencerR M C Lopes

Abstract

The Cassini spacecraft completed three close flybys of Saturn's enigmatic moon Enceladus between February and July 2005. On the third and closest flyby, on 14 July 2005, multiple Cassini instruments detected evidence for ongoing endogenic activity in a region centered on Enceladus' south pole. The polar region is the source of a plume of gas and dust, which probably emanates from prominent warm troughs seen on the surface. Cassini's Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) detected 3 to 7 gigawatts of thermal emission from the south polar troughs at temperatures up to 145 kelvin or higher, making Enceladus only the third known solid planetary body-after Earth and Io-that is sufficiently geologically active for its internal heat to be detected by remote sensing. If the plume is generated by the sublimation of water ice and if the sublimation source is visible to CIRS, then sublimation temperatures of at least 180 kelvin are required.

References

Mar 11, 2006·Science·C C PorcoS Squyres
Mar 11, 2006·Science·Candice J HansenR West
Mar 11, 2006·Science·Robert H BrownC Sotin
Apr 22, 1994·Science·D P Hamilton, J A Burns
Jan 29, 1982·Science·R HanelC Ponnamperuma
Oct 19, 1990·Science·R H BrownL A Soderblom

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 21, 2008·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Christopher D ParkinsonJoseph L Kirschivnk
Jan 1, 2008·Astrobiology·Steve VanceJ Michael Brown
Jan 1, 2008·Astrobiology·Kevin P HandChristopher F Chyba
Aug 19, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Gustavo GioiaSusan W Kieffer
Apr 5, 2014·Science·L IessP Tortora
Jun 4, 2011·Science·Andrew J Coates
Aug 9, 2015·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Peter A WillisMaria F Mora
Jun 11, 2015·Astrobiology·Jun Kimura, Norio Kitadai
May 8, 2015·Nature·Joseph N SpitaleSymeon S Platts
Sep 3, 2016·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·T G LeightonP R White
Jul 26, 2017·Astrobiology·Carolyn C Porco
Apr 14, 2018·Reports on Progress in Physics·Michele K Dougherty, Linda J Spilker
Jun 2, 2006·Nature·Francis Nimmo, Robert T Pappalardo
Jan 26, 2007·Nature·John Spencer, David Grinspoon
Jun 26, 2009·Nature·Nicholas M SchneiderNicholas A Achilleos
Apr 23, 2011·Nature·Wayne R PryorXiaoyan Zhou
Sep 6, 2017·Astrobiology·Ben D TeolisCarly J A Howett
Oct 23, 2018·Astrobiology·Amanda R HendrixSteven D Vance
May 18, 2007·Nature·Andrew J Dombard
Jun 29, 2018·Nature·Frank PostbergJ Hunter Waite
Apr 23, 2020·Life·Kathryn BywatersLawrence Lemke
Apr 10, 2021·Analytical Chemistry·Kenneth Marshall SeatonAmanda Michelle Stockton
Dec 16, 2006·Science·Susan W KiefferAlexandra Navrotsky
Mar 11, 2006·Science·Jeffrey S Kargel
Mar 11, 2006·Science·Margaret Galland Kivelson
Mar 11, 2006·Science·C C PorcoS Squyres
Mar 11, 2006·Science·G H JonesM K Dougherty

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.