Enceladus

Enceladus is a small moon that orbits the planet Saturn. It is covered in shiny white ice. Deep under the ice, there is a warm ocean of water. Amazing jets of water shoot out from cracks on the moon into space.

Icy Geysers

Near the south pole of Enceladus, there are long cracks called tiger stripes. Water sprays up from these cracks like huge fountains. The jets freeze in space and form tiny ice crystals. Some of this ice even helps make one of Saturn's rings. Scientists were surprised when they first saw the jets.

A Tiny Ocean World

Under the ice, Enceladus has a salty ocean. The ocean is kept warm by heat from deep inside the moon. This warmth could make Enceladus a good place to look for life. A spacecraft called Cassini flew right through one of the jets. It found water, salt, and chemicals that living things need.

Fun Facts

• Enceladus is only about 310 miles wide.
• Its surface is the shiniest of any object in the solar system.
• The jets can shoot water hundreds of miles into space.

Did You Know?

Some of the water from Enceladus never falls back down. It floats away and joins Saturn's rings.