Which moon sprays water into space?
Quick Answer
Saturn's moon Enceladus shoots jets of water vapour and ice grains into space from cracks near its south pole.
The Full Story
Enceladus is a small, icy moon only about 500 km across. In 2005 NASA's Cassini spacecraft discovered plumes erupting from four long fractures near its south pole, nicknamed 'tiger stripes'. Later observations identified more than 100 individual jets. The plumes come from a global ocean of salty liquid water hidden beneath the icy crust, kept warm by tidal flexing as Enceladus orbits Saturn. Cassini flew through the plumes and detected salts, silica and organic molecules, making Enceladus one of the most promising places to search for life beyond Earth.
Key Facts
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"A tiny moon with a hidden ocean that sprays into space."