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Enceladus

17th June, 2023

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Context

  • NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows the icy crust at the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

Enceladus

About

  • Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn (19th largest in the Solar System).
  • It is about 500 kilometers in diameter, about a tenth of that of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

Surface Temperature

  • Enceladus is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, making it one of the most reflective bodies of the Solar System.
  • Consequently, its surface temperature at noon only reaches −198 °C (75.1 K; −324.4 °F), far colder than a light-absorbing body would b
  • Despite its small size, Enceladus has a wide range of surface features, ranging from old, heavily cratered regions to young, tectonically deformed terrain.

Composition

  • Enceladus is a relatively small satellite composed of ice and rock.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements.

a) Enceladus is the largest moon of Saturn.

b) Enceladus is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, making it one of the most reflective bodies of the Solar System.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. a only

2. b only

3. All of the above.

4. None of the above.

Correct Answer: 2.b only