User:John Stephenson/sandbox: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Enceladusstripes_strip2.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Enceladus]], one of [[Saturn]]'s many moons, could be volcanically active and possibly home to other [[life]].{{PD-image|Science@NASA}}]]
In our [[solar system]] there are few known '''volcanically active worlds''' - bodies where openings in the surface [[crust]] allow material to forcefully escape, often in spectacular showers of [[ash]], [[rock (geology)|rock]] or [[gas]]es. To witness such a display you would have to visit parts of [[Earth]], [[Io]], [[Triton]] or, perhaps, [[Enceladus]].


[[Volcanoes]] on Earth are generally found at the boundaries of [[tectonic plate]]s, such as around the [[Pacific Ring of Fire]]. Earth is the only [[planet]] in the solar system which contains these forces - others, such as [[Mars]], are 'dead' worlds where volcanic activity has long since ceased. To witness extra-terrestrial volcanic activity, you would need to visit Io or Triton, [[natural satellite|moon]]s [[orbit]]ing [[Jupiter]] and [[Neptune]] respectively. However, it has recently been suggested that Enceladus, one of [[Saturn]]'s moons, might also be volcanically active - this could explain the [[ice|icy]] [[geyser]]s in the southern region of this tiny world, first observed in 2005 by [[NASA]]'s ''[[Cassini]]'' probe. If it is true that this little moon is spewing [[water]] into [[space]],<ref>''Science@NASA'': '[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/09mar_enceladus.htm Radical! Liquid Water on Enceladus]'. 3rd September 2006.</ref> Enceladus would be added to the growing list of places in the solar system that might be home to some form of [[life]]. To try to resolve these matters, NASA has set ''Cassini'' on course for a return visit to Enceladus, timed for March 2008.<ref>''[[New Scientist]]'': '[http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19526181.500-geyser-teaser-the-moon-that-should-be-colder.html  Geyser teaser: the moon that should be colder]'. 25th August 2007. ''Requires subscription for the full article''.</ref>
==Footnotes==
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==See also==
*[[Geophysics]]
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Revision as of 20:50, 2 October 2007

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