images

Enceladus, Earth, and Earth's Moon Compared

by

Walter B. Myers/Novapix

Reference

a-sys98-00200

Date

2009-03-06

Enceladus is considered one of Saturn's major satellites, however it is quite diminutive when compared with the Earth and Earth's Moon. With a radius of only 160 miles, Enceladus could rest in the Gulf of Mexico with plenty of room to spare. Enceladus is one of the brightest objects in the Solar System. Where Earth's Moon has a surface reflectively about the same as charcoal, Enceladus is covered in water ice that reflects sunlight like freshly fallen snow.