A photo from open sources
Astronomers for a long time could not understand how on the surface Saturn’s satellite Enceladus forms huge characteristic stripes.
Enceladus, the sixth largest satellite of Saturn, was discovered in 1789 by astronomer William Herschel. However unravel the mystery of the appearance of stripes on its surface, scientists were able to later thanks to new data obtained by the research probe Cassini, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.
It turned out that in the southern part of Enceladus there are active geysers, sometimes spewing powerful streams of water. On the surface Saturn’s satellite temperature is -240 degrees Celsius, therefore, the outflowing streams of water vapor and ice freeze in in the form of “tiger stripes”.
A photo from open sources
Currently, scientists have to find out why these geysers located only in the southern part of Enceladus. In addition, researchers proved that the satellite has an ocean with warm water.
Scientists previously stated that fragments were discovered on Enceladus. complex organics that can talk about the presence of life. Despite the fact that the diameter of Enceladus is about 505 kilometers (12,743 of our planet), experts from NASA believe that this satellite can be a livable place in the solar system.
Andrey Vetrov
Water Time Life Saturn
