Scientists have known for some time know about the existence of red streaks on the surface of Tethys. Earlier pictures uploaded by the Cassini spacecraft bared some barely visible arcs on the surface of the ice moon.
In a photograph taken in April 2015 year (when the system entered the so-called Saturn. Winter system, and the sun better illuminate the northern hemisphere of Tethys), you will see much more details.
Surprised scientists
– We were surprised by their size – explained Paul Helfenstein of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Scientists estimate that streaks can be wide for a few and several hundred kilometers long. However, we still are not able to explain their origin. They suspect that may be the result of chemical processes taking place on the ice surface.
– Red streaks must be geologically young because the older intersect “creations” such as impact craters, but do not know their age in years – says the researcher.
Further research
– After 11 years of working in orbit Cassini continues to provide surprising discoveries – said Linda Spilker, a researcher with the project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. – We plan to have a closer look at Tetydzie and its arches in November. We want to bring out the source of their origin and composition – she added.
Research since 2005.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is carried out jointly by the US space agency NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency. Imaging operations center is located at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Its mission is to study Saturn, its rings, moons and magnosfery (the area around a heavenly body charged its magnetic field).
The probe was launched from Earth in 1997. In July 2014 she became the first artificial satellite of Saturn. In January 2005, the Huygens probe separated from the probe and landed on the surface of one of the moons: Titan.
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