Drudge:CASSINI DISCOVERS POTENTIAL LIQUID WATER ON ENCELADUS

[mikejz]

From: http://www.drudgereport.com/flash8na.htm<br /><br />NASA'S CASSINI DISCOVERS POTENTIAL LIQUID WATER ON ENCELADUS<br />Thu Mar 09 2006 11:21:33 ET<br /><br />**Exclusive** <br /><br />NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The rare occurrence of liquid water so near the surface raises many new questions about the mysterious moon. <br /><br />"We realize that this is a radical conclusion - that we may have evidence for liquid water within a body so small and so cold," said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team leader at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo. "However, if we are right, we have significantly broadened the diversity of solar system environments where we might possibly have conditions suitable for living organisms."<br /><br />High-resolution Cassini images show icy jets and towering plumes ejecting huge quantities of particles at high speed. Scientists examined several models to explain the process. They ruled out the idea the particles are produced or blown off the moon's surface by vapor created when warm water ice converts to a gas. Instead, scientists have found evidence for a much more exciting possibility. The jets might be erupting from near-surface pockets of liquid water above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), like cold versions of the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone. <br /><br />"We previously knew of at most three places where active volcanism exists: Jupiter's moon Io, Earth, and possibly Neptune's moon Triton. Cassini changed all that, making Enceladus the latest member of this very exclusive club, and one of the most exciting places in the solar system," said John Spencer, Cassini scientist, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder.<br /><br />-more--2-<br /><br />"Other moons in the solar system have liquid-water oceans covered by kilometers of icy crust," said Andre

 

[mlorrey]

Well, now, this would be really interesting if Cassini found some frogs or fishes being shot up into Saturn orbit along with that water.<br /><br />That being said, this is an interesting potential source of 'panspermia': early life forming on ice moons, being shot out into space by ice geysers, then settling down on terrestrial planets and wherever else it can get hold.

 

[chew_on_this]

<font color="yellow">In the spring of 2008, scientists will get another chance to look at Enceladus when Cassini flies within 350 kilometers (approximately 220 miles), </font><br /><br />Better have the windsheild wipers on!

 

[dragon04]

Looks like Huygens was sent to the wrong address. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

i was really glad to see this when i looked at the internet today. this seems really important.<br />( i know it's been a really long time XD so busy... chemistry is hard!)

 

[kdavis007]

ENCELADUS HO!<br />