The largest ski resort in the solar system

[Tank]

Enceladus weather: Snow flurries and perfect powder for skiing

(PhysOrg.com) -- Global and high resolution mapping of Enceladus confirms that the weather forecast for Saturn's unique icy moon is set for ongoing snow flurries. The superfine ice crystals that coat Enceladus's surface would make perfect powder for skiing, according to Dr Paul Schenk of the Lunar and Planetary Institute (Houston, Texas), who will present the results at the EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011 in Nantes, France on Monday 3rd October.

Mapping of global colour patterns and measurements of surface layer thicknesses show that ice particles fall back onto the surface of Enceladus in a predictable pattern. Mapping of these deposits indicate that the plumes and their heat source are relatively long-lived features lasting millennia and probably tens of million years or more, and have blanketed areas of the surface in a thick layer of tiny ice particles.

"The discovery by instruments aboard the Cassini orbiter that there's a currently active plume of icy dust and vapour from Enceladus has revolutionized planetary science," says Schenk. "Earlier this year, we published work that showed material from Enceladus's plumes coats the surfaces of Saturn's icy moons. Now, we've uncovered two lines of evidence that point to thick deposits of plume material coating the surface of Enceladus itself." ...

When I was a kid in the 60s/70s the Space Race, Vietnam War and the Cold War dominated the news. Who'd have thought that by now I'd have seen pictures of a moon of Saturn with ice volcanos on it? Why the fuck do we waste time and effort killing each other and being superstitious when being peaceful and curious are so much more productive

[Xjeepguy]

Why the fuck do we waste time and effort killing each other and being superstitious when being peaceful and curious are so much more productive

^^This.^^

Well put, Tank.
Awesome pic too.

[McQ]

Agreed, Chris. Very well put.

Now, who's up for some skiing? 

[joeactor]

Huh - cool!

It's like a scene off an old timey sci-fi comic book, with astronauts skiing on another planet!

I bet this guy would like it there: