NASA news: Saturn moon, Enceladus, spits snow cannons on nearby moons | Science | New



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The radar observations collected by NASA's probe reveal an icy world covering its neighbors with huge icy waters, like an automatic "snow cannon". The incredible discovery was made by astronomers at the University of Paris-Saclay in France, two years after the end of Cassini's mission. Enceladus is the sixth of 53 lunar orbs in orbit around the Ring Giant and one of the great inner moons. The largest deepest moons of Saturn are Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys and Dione.

The researchers found that the moons shone louder than the other moons of Saturn, suggesting that their surfaces were much more reflective.

Moons are so bright on radar observations that astronomers have dubbed them the brightest objects in the solar system.

Cassini's data shows that Enceladus is to blame by spitting geysers of water in orbit that fall as snow.

Part of the water reaches even the other moons of Mimas and Tethys, making them more reflective.

READ MORE: NASA's Cassini Reveals Incredible Details in Saturn's Rings

The discovery was made by astronomer Alice Le Gall and her colleagues from Paris-Saclay University.

"The radar brightness of Mimas, Enceladus and Tethys at a wavelength of 2.2 cm exceeds that of the Galilean satellites.

"This indicates an ice of extremely soft and clean water in their underground structures, but also the presence of scattering structures particularly effective for the return of waves in the direction of backscattering."

Astronomers believe that Encelade houses powerful geysers that spit jets beneath its surface.

Under the icy outer layer of the moon are vast oceans of water covering the lunar satellite.

READ MORE: What is this mysterious 'HEXAGON' in the atmosphere of Saturn?

According to Mrs. Gall, the ice layer is at least several tens of centimeters thick.

The astronomer said: "We now know that snow is accumulating, it's not just a thin veneer, but a much thicker layer of water ice."

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has revolved around the planet Saturn and its moons for 13 years.

Launched from Earth in October 1997, the satellite ended its incredible exploration of Saturn on September 15, 2017.

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