NASA confirms there’s a global subsurface ocean on Enceladus

NASA confirms there’s a global subsurface ocean on Enceladus
A global ocean lies beneath the icy crust of Saturn's geologically active moon Enceladus, according to new research using data from NASA's Cassini mission.

Researchers found the magnitude of the moon's very slight wobble, as it orbits Saturn, can only be accounted for if its outer ice shell is not frozen solid to its interior, meaning a global ocean must be present.

The finding implies the fine spray of water vapor, icy particles and simple organic molecules Cassini has observed coming from fractures near the moon's south pole is being fed by this vast liquid water reservoir. The research is presented in a paper published online this week in the journal Icarus.

Source & further reading:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4718

Images via NASA

#enceladus   #nasa   #space   #research