Nobody is quite sure how such a small moon can have a molten interior that drives the water geysers and volcanoes. Calculations of the tidal forces due to Saturn dont seem strong enough and Enceladus is not massive enough for appreciable heating by radioactive decay.
I suggest that (the overlooked answer is) electrical currents due to the magnetic field interactions with Saturn are causing the heating.
2007-03-23 12:21:41 · 1 answers · asked by stargazergurl22 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It could be a combination of factors that, together, cause the thermal activity on Enceladus.
Tidal forces, orbital resonances with other satellites, electromagnetic effects, and possibly Saturnian lightning (which Cassini recently saw on the night side of the planet and measured the lightning as 20,000 times more powerful that earthly lightning) could all contribute to the activity.
Until we can study it more closely, I don't think we'll know for sure.
2007-03-23 15:27:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋