2005-07-26 | MISSIONS
Cassini Finds Unusual Geology on Enceladus
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has obtained new detailed images of the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The data reveal distinctive geological features and the most youthful terrain seen on the moon. The most remarkable images show ice blocks, about 33 to 328 feet across in a region that is unusual in its lack of the very fine-grained frost that seems to cover the rest of Enceladus. Other Cassini instrument teams are working to understand data about temperature, composition, particles and magnetic field.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Cassini is studying Saturn using 18 highly sophisticated science instruments. Through Cassini, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of Saturn, its famous rings, its magnetosphere, Titan, and its other icy moons. Titan is of particular interest to astrobiologists because it is the only known moon in the Solar System with a thick atmosphere. Studying the organic chemistry of Titan's atmosphere, which could resemble that of early Earth, may help scientists understand the origin of life on our planet. Understanding how life emerges from cosmic and planetary precursors is a primary goal of astrobiology.
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from NASA, Jul 26, 2005
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