Enceladus
A small, bright moon of Saturn that sprays water into space.
Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, about 500 km across. Fresh snow makes it one of the most reflective bodies in the Solar System, and its noon surface reaches only about -198 C.
William Herschel discovered it in 1789. The Cassini spacecraft found plumes of water vapour and ice erupting from its south polar region; this material feeds Saturn's E ring.
Quick Facts
- Named after
- Ἐγκέλαδος Enkélados
- Adjectives
- Enceladean ɛ
- n
- s
- ə
- ˈ
- l
- eɪ
- d
- i
- ə
- n
- Discoverer
- William Herschel
- Discovered
- August 28, 1789
- Periapsis
- 236, 895 km / 556 mi
- Apoapsis
- 239, 180 km / 112 mi
- Inclination
- 0.009° (to Saturn's equator)
- Satellite of
- Saturn
More in Celestial Bodies & Worlds
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