Saturn's Enceladus - Tuesday Sept 6 2005

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Richarday
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Saturn's Enceladus - Tuesday Sept 6 2005

Post by Richarday » Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:46 pm

Why are there no craters on the left half of the moon? There seems to be a very distinct line between the cratered area on the right and the un-cratered area on the left. Shouldn't there be a gradual reduction in the cratering?
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Empeda
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Post by Empeda » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:05 pm

Exactly what all the fuss is about - it means (most probably) that something is shaping the surface i.e. volcanism. This is why there's currently so much fuss being made about the so called 'Tiger stripes'.
I'm an Astrophysics Graduate from Keele University, England - doesn't mean I know anything but I might be able to help!
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craterchains
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Post by craterchains » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:02 pm

Somewhat reminds me of Jupiter's moon Europa. :o
"It's not what you know, or don't know, but what you know that isn't so that will hurt you." Will Rodgers 1938
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makc
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Post by makc » Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:25 am

should I lock this? with so many replies?
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BMAONE23
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Post by BMAONE23 » Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:13 pm

Does this moon orbit Saturn in the same fashion as ours does? (One side always facing the planet) If so, it could be that Saturn's gravity well pulls debris into the back side of the moon leaving the front side nearly pristine. Our moon is significantly cratered on the back side.

Just a thought
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Kid
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Post by Kid » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:06 pm

makc are u jealous?
tell me if i am repeating questions
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Richarday
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Reference BMAONE23’s comment:

Post by Richarday » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:03 pm

If the moon has one side always facing the planet, wouldn’t the craters on the edge of the moon’s profile which faced out into space, be elongated due to the angle at which the objects would strike the moons’ surface. Although I assume that some objects may also come in at a tangent to the planet and impact the moon directly which would result in some round craters on the "edge" of the profile presented to space. Comments?
Last edited by Richarday on Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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craterchains
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Post by craterchains » Sat Sep 10, 2005 1:52 pm

Richarday
Good questions to ask, considering the theory's of the formation of our solar system. :)

What we would expect to see is often not what we expected when we do get to see. :?
"It's not what you know, or don't know, but what you know that isn't so that will hurt you." Will Rodgers 1938
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