Plumes of water vapour and dust stream through cracks in the icy surface of the southern hemisphere of Enceladus. (IMAGE)

Europlanet

Plumes of water vapour and dust stream through cracks in the icy surface of the southern hemisphere of Enceladus.

Caption

Plumes of water vapour and dust stream through cracks in the icy surface of the southern hemisphere of Enceladus. The water molecules and particles from these geysers become ionised when exposed to radiation, creating an electrically-charged plasma that interacts with Saturn's magnetic field as it sweeps past Enceladus. 

Credit

NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute.

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License

Public Domain

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