Enceladus Plume Composition vs. Comets (Graph)

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/SwRI

Original Caption: Enceladus’s plume was found to have a comet-like chemistry by Cassini’s Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer during its fly-through of the plume on 12 March 2008. Water vapor, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, simple organics and complex organics were identified in the plume. The graph shows the chemical constituents in percentage of abundance found in comets compared to those found in Enceladus’s plume.

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Cassini 'tastes' organic brew at Saturn’s geyser moon

Article Images - Cassini 'tastes' organic brew at Saturn’s geyser moon