Other
Scientific paper
Apr 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006sptz.prop..273m&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #273
Other
Scientific paper
During a close encounter with the Saturnian moon Enceladus on July 14, 2005, the Cassini spacecraft made one of its most unexpected discoveries to date. The recent announcements of this discovery show evidence from multiple instruments on the spacecraft for a large plume of water vapor and solid particles emanating from Enceladus' south polar region (Porco et al. 2006). The moon's weak gravitational field prevents the retention of an atmosphere on this icy body, which indicates that this gas is likely the result of some currently active venting geothermal process. This unique environment on an icy outer moon provides potential sub-surface liquid reservoirs, and a heat source, providing a hitherto unimagined potential site for life that is accessible to study via remote-sensing. However, Cassini has now left Enceladus, and will not return until 2008. Further monitoring of this unique environment must now be carried out by ground-, and space-based telescopes such as Spitzer. Here we proposed to take IRAC and IRS observations of Enceladus and its plume to characterize the Enceladus surface, and search for reflectivity and molecular spectral features from the plume. Any molecules detected may provide further clues to this environment's suitability for life.
Grillmair Carl C.
Meadows Victoria
Reach Bill
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