Analyzing data gathered by the space probe Cassini space Agency NASA, whose mission magically ended in the autumn of last year, scientists discovered a very interesting detail associated with Dione, the natural satellite of the gas giant Saturn. It turns out that the moon’s surface is covered with strange stains. Scientists suspect that the material that created these stains, fell on dione’s surface from space, writes portal Space.com.
Scientists have noted on the photos the surface of dione, obtained in the last moments of life “Cassini”, long, narrow and bright streaks of unknown origin, which reminded me of similar bands that have already been observed on the surface of another moon of Saturn – Rhea.
On the surface of dione they are parallel to each other, are often found in the region of the equator, according to scientists, appeared there relatively recently.
“Their attitude is parallel to the equator and linearity differ from what we have seen so far in the Solar system,” — says Alex Petroff, a geologist from the Institute of planetary Sciences and co-author of an article in the journal Geophysical Research Letters describing this discovery.
Petcoff, together with his colleagues tried to find out what is the cause of these strange streaks. Whether these traces are the result of geological activity on the moon, or this phenomenon emerged under the influence of certain external factors. To resolve the issue, scientists began to try all possible options. According to one of them, on the surface of the satellite can be rolled stones, and who leave these traces. According to another, the researchers could observe cracks in the surface of dione. According to the third, cracks may appear in the result of the powerful impact from the outside, for example, of an asteroid impact.
However, the most plausible and logical explanation, according to the researchers, is a slow drop on dione’s surface material of the rings of Saturn or the surface of other satellites passing by his planets, and comets. To accurately determine the cause of the appearance of strange lines on the dio requires further observation satellite. Scientists also believe that new observations of Dione will be able to tell more about the potential of its habitability, as, indeed, other similar this satellite worlds.
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