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Scientists have revealed the secret of the appearance of geysers on the satellite of Saturn
At least 101 geysers are erupting on the icy surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, according to the latest study published in the Astronomical Journal. According to experts, geysers provide an opportunity to collect extraterrestrial water for study. In recent years, Enceladus has become one of the most attractive places to search for the simplest life – in its depths, an ocean was discovered, and on the surface – ice.
The researchers wondered if geysers were ejected because friction along ice cracks created hot spots that melted the ice.
New data obtained by the Cassini spacecraft show that areas where geysers are hitting from under the icy surface are not much warmer than the surrounding ice and too small to melt it. In this regard, NASA experts suggested that the ice fracture is affected by Saturn’s gravity, as a result of which water penetrates through its thickness into the airless space of Enceladus.
Source: globalscience.ru
The researchers wondered if geysers were ejected because friction along ice cracks created hot spots that melted the ice.
New data obtained by the Cassini spacecraft show that areas where geysers are hitting from under the icy surface are not much warmer than the surrounding ice and too small to melt it. In this regard, NASA experts suggested that the ice fracture is affected by Saturn’s gravity, as a result of which water penetrates through its thickness into the airless space of Enceladus.
Source: globalscience.ru
