NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Press Enter or click the Search button to begin your search.

Back to Results
Using Jet Observations to Constrain Enceladus' Rotation StateObservations of Enceladus have revealed active jets of material erupting from cracks on its surface. It has been proposed that diurnal tidal stress may open these cracks daily when they experience tensile stresses across them, allowing eruptions to occur. An analysis of the tidal stress on jet source regions, as identified by the triangulation of jet observations, finds that there is a correlation between observations and tensile stress on the cracks. However, not all regions are predicted to be in tension when jets were observed to be active. Enceladus' rotation state, such as a physical libration or obliquity, will affect the diurnal stresses on these cracks, changing when in its orbit they experience tension and compression. We will use observations of jet activity from 2005-2007 to place constraints on rotation states of Enceladus.
Document ID
20110011729
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Hurford, Terry A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Porco, C. C.
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.ABS.4324.2011
Report Number: GSFC.ABS.4324.2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available