Scientists explain chemical diversity of Enceladus ice grains

A study describes how material from Enceladus' subsurface ocean is ejected through fractures near its south pole as a plume of water vapor and ice particles. The varied chemistry of these grains lets scientists study an extraterrestrial ocean without drilling through kilometers of ice.

• Enceladus' plume ejects vapor and ice from south-polar fractures
• Particles give access to the ocean without drilling kilometers of ice
• Grain chemistry varies, reflecting processes within the ocean