Cassini has performed thefinal skinny flybyof Enceladus , and the team decided to go back to a mysterious terrain that was glimpsed10 geezerhood ago . The region is odd because the black area looked similar to the spots on Dalmatians – or at least , that ’s the simile NASA used .
Thenew image , seen above in fictive colors , offer more insight regarding the nature of the pip . The spots are large and they pasture in size from tens to one C of meters . They are believed to be gloomy jut of solid “ bedrock ” ice likely created by downslope movement or sublimation effect . Enceladus has a slight exosphere ( slight atmosphere ) so there is no erosion that could excuse how the bedrock become exposed .
The image has a resolution of 67 meters ( 220 feet ) per pixel at the inwardness and it is in a broad kitchen range of colors than human vision . The faux - color view uses an ultraviolet filter for grim , and a near - infrared filter for bolshy to cover a all-embracing spectrum region than the human eye . The fleeceable filter is still used for fleeceable .
Enceladus is the sixth - largest synodic month of Saturn and is mostly covered by reinvigorated , sporty ice . Despite its minuscule size , Enceladus has an interesting geology that goes from old cratered areas to youthful alive I . The region imaged by Cassini is itself tectonically combat-ready . The dark smirch seem to be aligned in mountain chain parallel to the narrow fractures . Large crevasses can be seen also sweep the area .
This Cassini image shows the dalamation spots as seen in 2005 . NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute
Cassini analysis of Enceladus has been very fruitful in the last year , with the probe all but confirm the presence of aglobal oceanunderneath its frosty airfoil . The sea appear to be warm enough to generate the geologic variety seen on the open as well as bring about plumes , which Cassini dive into afew months ago .
Studying the plumes is important to understanding what ’s mill around beneath the water ice . constitutional components could be an indication of biological processes underground , get away through the plumes , and would allow scientist to judge the chances of life on Europa . The plumes are also important for Saturn ’s hoop ; escape the lunar month ’s gravity , thematerial contributesto one of Saturn ’s ring , the E - annulus .
Cassini is a joint mission of NASA , ESA , and the Italian Space Agency . It will conclude in September 2017 , when the spacecraft will be send off into Saturn ’s atmosphere . This is a precaution to guarantee that there is no contamination of surface area that could potentially host life .
