Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, is home to enormous geysers that shoot icy particles and water vapor into space
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Below its icy crust, Enceladus hides a global subsurface ocean, raising the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
1The surface of Enceladus features unique "tiger stripes," which are fractures that serve as the source of its geysers.
The Cassini spacecraft discovered that the geysers originate from vents near Enceladus' south pole.
Enceladus' geysers contain organic molecules, suggesting the presence of complex chemistry favorable to life.
Scientists suspect that hydrothermal activity, similar to Earth's deep-sea vents, fuels the geysers on Enceladus.
Measurements indicate a high salinity in Enceladus' subsurface ocean, which could impact its geology and habitability.
The combination of a subsurface ocean, organic molecules, and hydrothermal activity makes Enceladus a prime target for astrobiological exploration.