Posted on Feb 5, 2023
APOD: 2023 February 5 – Enceladus by Saturnshine
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Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the February 5th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Enceladus by Saturnshine." Enceladus was first noted by William Herschel on August 28, 1789, and is the sixth largest moon of Saturn. Little was known about Enceladus until both Voyager spacecraft flew by Saturn in the early 1980s. This image was taken by Cassini in 2011.
If the skies are dark enough on Earth, we can see the 'earthshine' illuminating our Moon each month for the 'New Moon.' The same phenomenon is shown here with Saturn. The Sun is off frame to the right, and Enceladus is bathed in the reflected gold light of Saturn's cloud tops.
Look towards the bottom left of today's image. Do you see what looks like two plumes coming up from the surface? Data from Cassini suggest that these plumes well up from hydrothermal activity beneath the ice that covers Enceladus. Cryovolcanoes near the south pole are spewing geyser-like jets of water vapor, other volatiles, and solid material into space at rates estimated at 440 pounds per second. More than 100 geysers have been identified from current data. Cassini has also found evidence that indicates the presence of a large south polar subsurface ocean (of liquid water!) and that Enceladus is geologically active.
Judging from the surface features we see here (and the lack of features around the South Pole), I'd say the scientists may be right.
If the skies are dark enough on Earth, we can see the 'earthshine' illuminating our Moon each month for the 'New Moon.' The same phenomenon is shown here with Saturn. The Sun is off frame to the right, and Enceladus is bathed in the reflected gold light of Saturn's cloud tops.
Look towards the bottom left of today's image. Do you see what looks like two plumes coming up from the surface? Data from Cassini suggest that these plumes well up from hydrothermal activity beneath the ice that covers Enceladus. Cryovolcanoes near the south pole are spewing geyser-like jets of water vapor, other volatiles, and solid material into space at rates estimated at 440 pounds per second. More than 100 geysers have been identified from current data. Cassini has also found evidence that indicates the presence of a large south polar subsurface ocean (of liquid water!) and that Enceladus is geologically active.
Judging from the surface features we see here (and the lack of features around the South Pole), I'd say the scientists may be right.
APOD: 2023 February 5 – Enceladus by Saturnshine
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
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Posted >1 y ago
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price good afternoon my friend, and good to see you on the RP net this Sunday afternoon February 5, 2023 . I have said it many times before, yet I will say it again, "nobody does it better from above". Thank you for sharing Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD):"Enceladus by Saturnshine."
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell Lt Col Charlie Brown
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell Lt Col Charlie Brown
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Thank you my space-exploration advocate friend and brother-in-Christ Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the Saturday, February 5, 2023 Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): Enceladus by Saturnshine
Image: Enceladus by Saturnshine; Image Credit: NASA; ESA, JPL, Cassini Imaging Team, SSI; Color Composite: Gordan Ugarkovic
APOD Explanation: This moon is shining by the light of its planet. Specifically, a large portion of Enceladus pictured here is illuminated primarily by sunlight first reflected from the planet Saturn. The result is that the normally snow-white moon appears in the gold color of Saturn's cloud tops. As most of the illumination comes from the image left, a labyrinth of ridges throws notable shadows just to the right of the image center, while the kilometer-deep canyon Labtayt Sulci is visible just below. The bright thin crescent on the far right is the only part of Enceladus directly lit by the Sun. The featured image was taken in 2011 by the robotic Cassini spacecraft during a close pass by the enigmatic moon. Inspection of the lower left part of this digitally sharpened image reveals plumes of ice crystals thought to originate in a below-surface sea.
Image: Enceladus by Saturnshine; Image Credit: NASA; ESA, JPL, Cassini Imaging Team, SSI; Color Composite: Gordan Ugarkovic
APOD Explanation: This moon is shining by the light of its planet. Specifically, a large portion of Enceladus pictured here is illuminated primarily by sunlight first reflected from the planet Saturn. The result is that the normally snow-white moon appears in the gold color of Saturn's cloud tops. As most of the illumination comes from the image left, a labyrinth of ridges throws notable shadows just to the right of the image center, while the kilometer-deep canyon Labtayt Sulci is visible just below. The bright thin crescent on the far right is the only part of Enceladus directly lit by the Sun. The featured image was taken in 2011 by the robotic Cassini spacecraft during a close pass by the enigmatic moon. Inspection of the lower left part of this digitally sharpened image reveals plumes of ice crystals thought to originate in a below-surface sea.
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