Space Topics: Saturn
Enceladus
The Tiny, Active Moon
High-resolution mosaic of Enceladus
A global mosaic of Enceladus made from images captured on July 14, 2005 shows the color variations along the moon's fissured surface in unprecedented detail.
Credit: NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute
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Size: Sub-spherical, 512 x 494 x 490 kilometers
- 6th largest moon of Saturn
Orbital radius: 238,020 kilometers - 3.95 Saturn radii - within
the E ring
Orbital period: 1.37 days - about 1/12 of Titan's
Discovery: 1789 by William Herschel
Because Enceladus is similar in size, shape, and location to Mimas, it
was once thought that the two moons would be very similar. However, the
two could not be much more different. While Mimas is an old, dark, cratered
surface, Enceladus is now known to be a youthful, geologically active place. Striping
Enceladus' south pole are four or five fissures -- casually referred to
as "tiger stripes" -- which are now known to be the source of
eruptions of relatively warm water ice. The eruptions create an atmosphere
near Enceladus' south pole, but nowhere else on the satellite. The
spray of vapor and ice crystals are also the source of the material in
Saturn's tenuous E ring, which encompasses the orbits of most of the icy
satellites.
Place names on Enceladus are taken from Sir Richard Burton's translation
of The Arabian Nights.
Flybys of Enceladus
Cassini
January 16, 2005 at 06:16 UTC
“0CEN” nontargeted flyby
Closest approach altitude 189,000 kilometers (117,000 miles)
Cassini
February 17, 2005 at 03:33 UTC
“03EN” nontargeted flyby
Closest approach altitude 1,264 kilometers (788 miles)
Cassini
March 9, 2005 at 09:08 UTC
“04EN” targeted flyby [E1]
Closest approach altitude 501 kilometers (312 miles)
Cassini
July 14, 2005 at 03:33 UTC
“13EN” targeted flyby [E2]
Closest approach altitude 172 kilometers (107 miles)
Future Flybys
Cassini
February 17, 2005 at 03:33 UTC
“61EN” targeted flyby [E3]
Closest approach altitude 97 kilometers (60 miles)
Map of Enceladus
Global map of Enceladus (simple cylindrical projection)
Global map centered at 180 degrees longitude (the anti-Saturnian point). The map is 2,048 pixels wide, and Enceladus' diameter is 499 kilometers, so the map resolution is 765 meters per pixel at the equator. A larger and more up-to-date version may be available at Steve Albers' website.
Credit: NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute / Steve Albers
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