Tidal heating in Enceladus

Meyer, Jennifer; Wisdom, Jack

United States

Abstract

The heating in Enceladus in an equilibrium resonant configuration with other saturnian satellites can be estimated independently of the physical properties of Enceladus. We find that equilibrium tidal heating cannot account for the heat that is observed to be coming from Enceladus. Equilibrium heating in possible past resonances likewise cannot explain prior resurfacing events.

2007 Icarus
Cassini 141