Cassini Finds Saturn's Moon Enceladus Is a Powerhouse (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110308144714.htm)
QuoteScienceDaily (Mar. 9, 2011) â€" Heat output from the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus is much greater than was previously thought possible, according to a new analysis of data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
The study was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research on March 4.
Data from Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer of Enceladus' south polar terrain, which is marked by linear fissures, indicate that the internal heat-generated power is about 15.8 gigawatts, approximately 2.6 times the power output of all the hot springs in the Yellowstone region, or comparable to 20 coal-fueled power stations. This is more than an order of magnitude higher than scientists had predicted, according to Carly Howett, the lead author of study, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., and a composite infrared spectrometer science team member...
The news just gets better and better. Not only is there probably an ocean on Eneladus, it's probably warmer than previously thought and salty!
Wow. That's amazing!
I'll be surprised if they don't find any life there.
Quote from: "karadan"Wow. That's amazing!
I'll be surprised if they don't find any life there.
Well that is rather the hope, that we do find life on one of the other planets/moons of our own solar system. It would be a personal bonus if I were still alive to see it!