--- title: "Something Weird Is Happening on Saturn’s Snow-Covered Moon, Scientists Say" description: "Saturn's icy moon Enceladus isn't only suspected to hold a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust — it's also covered in an astonishing amount of snow." date: "2023-01-22" modified: "2023-01-22" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/snow-covered-moon-enceladus-regolith" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "enceladus" - "saturn" - "the digest" --- # Something Weird Is Happening on Saturn’s Snow-Covered Moon, Scientists Say ![Saturn's icy moon Enceladus isn't only suspected to hold a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust — it's also covered in an astonishing amount of snow.]() *\Image: NASA\* Saturn's tiny ice-covered moon Enceladus isn't only suspected to hold a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust — it's also covered in an astonishing amount of fuzzy, snow-like material, puzzling scientists. According to a [new study published in the journal *Icarus*](), the tiny moon may have been far more tectonically active over time than previously thought, with snow cannon-like plumes erupting from massive icy geysers, depositing vast amounts of particles in the form of low-density regolith on its surface. Meanwhile, smaller and lighter particles are blasted into outer space, contributing to Saturn's massive rings — a fascinating portrait of a desolate alien world. Are we really talking about snow here? The study itself refers to the layer as "regolith," while media coverage has largely used the word "snow." "The material we measured on the surface of Enceladus was not generated from a planetary atmosphere the way snow might imply," lead author Emily Martin, planetary scientist at the National Air and Space Museum in DC, told Futurism in an email. "However, the way in which Enceladus's icy plume particles fall to the surface is reminiscent of snow and I think an appropriate analogy." There's also a chance that Enceladus' snow isn't exactly the same as the fluffy substance found here on Earth. "As far as I know the physical properties of this material are still not well understood," Martin told Futurism, adding that plenty of scientists are trying to "understand the physical properties of icy regolith." Terminology aside, the scientists' conclusion could end up serving a critical role if we were to ever attempt to land a probe on Enceladus' surface, as [*Science Alert* reports]() — which could certainly be worth the trip, as the moon's subsurface ocean is a prime place to look for extraterrestrial life in our solar system. High-resolution images taken by NASA's Cassini probe back in 2017 revealed a vast number of "pit chains," which are crater-like geological features that form when material is sucked down by a void underneath, not unlike lava tubes or limestone caves. These pits were the result of the moon's icy crust fracturing due to tugging gravitational forces, allowing loose drifts to fall into newly formed cavities underneath, the scientists suggest. By measuring these pits, they were able to figure out that the thickness of this regolith averaged over 820 feet, with some areas reaching depths of up to 2,300 feet. Martin and her colleagues suggest Enceladus' plumes must have been a lot more active in the past to account for the thickness of this layer of "low-density/high-porosity material," according to the paper. In short, Enceladus' surface would likely make for one hell of a snowball fight — that is, if you can figure out how to overcome its nearly complete lack of gravity and cryogenic surface temperatures. **READ MORE:** [Mysteriously Deep Snow Covers The Icy Moon Enceladus, But How Did It Get There?]() \[*Science Alert*\] **More on Enceladus:** *[Saturn Might Be Hiding Remains of a Secret, Massive Moon in Its Rings]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()