Research physicist Emily Martin claims that ice exists at varying depths at the south pole of Enceladus. He said that ice vapor may have started from cracks on the surface of its south pole. Under Enceladus’ thick icy surface, liquid fountains continuously erupt from the ocean of salt water that turns into ice. This ice then forms a chain of craters on the surface of Enceladus. Scientists claim that water coming out of the hidden ocean of Enceladus reaches some of its neighboring moons as well.
Surface study being done for mission on Enceladus
Emily Martin, who works in the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, is researching the thickness and density of Enceladus’ ice with her colleagues. He told that his research is very important for the mission on the surface of the moon in the future. Martin explained that if you’re going to land a robot out there, you need to understand what surface you’re going to land on.
Ice seen on the surface of Saturn’s moon
According to their study, published in the scientific journal Icarus, the team used Icelandic soil to understand the solidity of Enceladus. The land of Iceland has features similar to Enceladus. The surface of Enceladus also has streaks and scars formed when ice accumulated in it. Later this ice melts, but the crater remains the same. Scientists were able to see this beautiful sight when NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, sent pictures of Enceladus.
