SwRI contributed to new Cycle 1 JWST findings that reveal the plume of water getting away from Saturns moon Enceladus extends 6,000 miles or more than 40 times the moons size. In light of this discovery, SwRIs Dr. Christopher Glein was granted a NASA JWST Cycle 2 allocation to study the plume as well as the icy surface of Enceladus, to much better understand the potential habitability of this ocean world. As Enceladus whips around the gas giant in simply 33 hours, the moon gushes water, leaving a halo, nearly like a donut, in its wake. Im delighted to be part of the Cycle 2 group as we start our search for brand-new indicators of habitability and plume activity on Enceladus.”.
“After Cycle 2, we will have a better idea if ocean samples are extensively distributed over Enceladuss surface area, as opposed to just near the south pole.
SwRI added to brand-new Cycle 1 JWST findings that show the plume of water getting away from Saturns moon Enceladus extends 6,000 miles or more than 40 times the moons size. Due to this discovery, SwRIs Dr. Christopher Glein was awarded a NASA JWST Cycle 2 allowance to study the plume along with the icy surface of Enceladus, to much better understand the potential habitability of this ocean world. Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/ Alyssa Pagan (STScI)/ Geronimo Villanueva (NASA-GSFC).
SwRI researcher awarded JWST Cycle 2 observations of Enceladus.
A pair of researchers from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) were members of a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team that observed a towering plume of water vapor stretching over 6,000 miles– a range equivalent to that between the U.S. and Japan– emerging from the surface of Saturns moon, Enceladus. This significant discovery, achieved throughout NASA JWSTs Cycle 1, has caused Dr. Christopher Glein of SwRI being granted a Cycle 2 allocation to take a look at both the plume and vital chemical compounds on the surface area, in an effort to much better comprehend the possible habitability of this oceanic heavenly body.
During its comprehensive 13-year survey of the Saturnian system, the Cassini spacecraft developed the existence of a subterranean ocean of liquid water on Enceladus. The spacecraft analyzed samples as plumes of ice grains and water vapor emerged into area from fractures in the moons icy surface.
” Enceladus is one of the most vibrant objects in the solar system and is a prime target in mankinds search for life beyond Earth,” stated Glein, a leading expert in extraterrestrial oceanography. He is a co-author of a paper recently accepted by Nature Astronomy. “In the years since NASAs Cassini spacecraft first looked at Enceladus, we continue to be astonished by what we discover is taking place on this amazing moon.”.
Once again, the most recent observations made with Webbs Near InfraRed Spectrograph have yielded amazing outcomes.
” When I was taking a look at the data, in the beginning, I was believing I needed to be wrong, it was so stunning to map a plume more than 20 times the size of the moon,” said Geronimo Villanueva of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center and lead author of the current paper. “The plume extends far beyond what we could have pictured.”.
Webbs level of sensitivity exposes a new story about Enceladus and how it feeds the water supply for the entire system of Saturn and its rings. As Enceladus whips around the gas giant in simply 33 hours, the moon spews water, leaving a halo, nearly like a donut, in its wake.
” The Webb observations, for the first time, are aesthetically illustrating how the moons water vapor plumes are playing a role in the formation of the torus,” stated SwRIs Dr. Silvia Protopapa, an expert in the compositional analysis of icy bodies in the solar system who was likewise on the Cycle 1 group. “This functions as a spectacular testimony to Webbs remarkable abilities. Im enjoyed be part of the Cycle 2 team as we start our search for new signs of habitability and plume activity on Enceladus.”.
Spurred by the incredible findings from Webbs first short lived glance of Enceladus, Glein is leading the very same team that will observe Enceladus again with JWST in the next year.
” We will look for particular indications of habitability, such as natural signatures and hydrogen peroxide,” Glein said. “Hydrogen peroxide is particularly fascinating because it can provide far more potent sources of metabolic energy than what we previously determined. Cassini didnt offer us a clear answer on the accessibility of such strong oxidants on Enceladus.”.
The new observations will provide the finest remote chance to look for habitability indications on the surface area, by enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio by approximately an element of 10 compared with Cycle 1. Comprehending the time variability of plume outgassing is also essential to prepare for future planetary science objectives that target the plume.
” Webb can work as a bridge between Cassini and the proposed search-for-life objective, Orbilander,” Glein said. “After Cycle 2, we will have a much better idea if ocean samples are commonly dispersed over Enceladuss surface, instead of simply near the south pole. These next observations might assist us figure out if Orbilander can access ocean samples near the equator, which may help us return to Enceladus sooner.”.
Recommendation: “JWST molecular mapping and characterization of Enceladus water plume feeding its torus” by G. L. Villanueva, H. B. Hammel, S. N. Milam, V. Kofman, S. Faggi, C. R. Glein, R. Cartwright, L. Roth, K. P. Hand, L. Paganini, J. Spencer, J. Stansberry, B. Holler, N. Rowe-Gurney, S. Protopapa, G. Strazzulla, G. Liuzzi, G. Cruz-Mermy, M. El Moutamid, M. Hedman and K. Denny, 19 June 2023, Nature Astronomy.DOI: 10.1038/ s41550-023-02009-6.
