NASA Probe Flies Through Saturn Moon Enceladus' Plume

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In 2005, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft discovered that geysers blast water ice, organic molecules and other material into space from the south polar region of the Saturn moon Enceladus.
Credit: NASA/JPL/SSI
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has made its deepest dive yet through the plume emanating from the south pole of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.
Cassini flew low through the plume today (Oct. 28) at about 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT), zooming within a mere 30 miles (50 kilometers) of Enceladus' frigid surface, if all went according to plan. During the encounter, the spacecraft snapped photos and gathered samples that should help researchers learn more about the moon's life-hosting potential. (An ocean of liquid water sloshes beneath Enceladus' icy shell, and the plume material comes from this subsurface sea.)

Enceladus has an extensive water ocean under its icy crust, feeding water jets that emerge from near the south pole. See how Enceladus works, and how its water geysers erupt, in this Space.com infographic.
Credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist

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