Have an ice day:

⁣The cracked and etched surface of one of Saturn’s icy moons, Enceladus, is the most reflective in our solar system, contributing to frigid cold surface temperatures that hover around -330°F (-201°C).⁣

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Beneath the icy shell of Enceladus lies a large subsurface ocean that sprays particles through fissures in the frozen surface into space. The icy water particles produce Saturn’s E ring, which extends about 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) to about 260,000 miles (420,000 kilometers) above Saturn's equator.⁣

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Our Cassini spacecraft captured this mosaic of Enceladus from around 38,090 to 6,897 miles (61,300 to 11,100 km) as it studied the icy moon. Scientists studying data collected by Cassini speculate that Enceladus could be a possible habitat for life beyond our home due to its ocean and chemical composition.⁣

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Image description: Enceladus' half-lit white surface starkly contrasts the blackness of space. Cracks and bumps meander across the surface in shades of blue and white.⁣

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Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

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18 November 2023