Explanation: One of our Solar System's most
tantalizing worlds, Enceladus is backlit by the Sun in this Cassini spacecraft image from November 1, 2009.
The dramatic illumination reveals the plumes that continuously spew into space from the south pole of
Saturn's 500 kilometer diameter moon. Discovered by Cassini in 2005, the icy plumes are likely connected to an ocean
beneath the ice shell of Enceladus. They supply material directly to Saturn's outer, tenuous
E ring and make the surface of Enceladus as reflective as snow. Across the scene, Saturn's icy rings scatter sunlight toward Cassini's cameras. Beyond the rings (lower right), the night side of 80 kilometer diameter moon
Pandora is faintly lit by
Saturnlight.
Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space