Saturn's moon Enceladus is more reflective than any other planet or moon. This new image from the Cassini spacecraft shows that some of the linear features on frozen Enceladus have a slightly different color from their surroundings.

Different colors of ice may be caused by varying compositions or varying ice crystal sizes, either of which can indicate different formation mechanisms or different ages.

Enceladus is 505 kilometers (314 miles) across.

The new view, shows some of the smooth plains noted in NASA's Voyager spacecraft images and earlier Cassini images. At about the seven o'clock position are interwoven linear patterns that are reminiscent of the wispy-terrain features on two of Saturn's other moons, Dione and Rhea.

Imaging scientists are not sure whether these brighter markings are evidence for contamination of the ice in the linear features by some other material. Analysis of high resolution images of Enceladus should also show whether, like the surprising terrain seen on Dione, the "wisps" are curvilinear fractures that are not quite resolved at this scale.

This false-color view combines images obtained using filters sensitive to ultraviolet, polarized green and infrared light. The images were obtained on Feb. 16, 2005.

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute