Scientists say the plume may feed Saturn's water system at large, and studying it could provide key insights into potential life beyond Earth.
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified an enormous stream of water vapor erupting from the surface of one of Saturn's moons, NASAthis week. The plume measures at least 6,000 miles long — which is already more than twice the width of the United States — making it the largest of its kind detected on the distant moon Enceladus.
The massive plume detected most recently by the Webb Telescope is of particular interest to researchers because of both its size and strength. Although Enceladus is among Saturn's largest moons, of which there are at least 124, according to NASA, its 313-mile diameter makes it just about 4% of the Earth's size.
Scientists also determined that water vapor gushes out through the stream at a rate of about 79 gallons per second — fast enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in a couple of hours, NASA said. It may even be powerful enough to feed the rest of the Saturnian water system. Villanueva said the moon creates a trail of water like a"halo," according to NASA, and noted that about 70% of the water emitted through the plume ultimately escapes the ring to supply Saturn's water system at large. Astronomers determined that the other 30% stays within the halo.
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