Size of the UK: Enceladus is a small moon of Saturn, about the size of the United Kingdom. It is covered in a thick layer of ice, but scientists believe that there is a liquid ocean beneath the surface. This ocean is thought to be about 100 kilometers deep and to contain twice as much water as Earth's oceans.

Cassin's Insights: Several missions have been sent to study Enceladus, including the Cassini mission. Cassini used its instruments to study the moon's surface, ice, and atmosphere. It also flew through the plumes of water vapor and ice particles that erupt from the moon's south pole.

The Cassini mission detected organic molecules in the plumes of Enceladus. These molecules are the building blocks of life, and their presence on Enceladus suggests that the moon may be habitable.

Hydrothermal vents: The heat from the moon's interior may be driving hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. These vents could provide energy and nutrients for life, similar to the way they do on Earth. The tug and pull of the gravity of Saturn and other moons causes Enceladus to flex. This flexing, called gravitational tidal forcing, generates heat from friction deep within Enceladus. This heat is thought to be responsible for keeping the ocean liquid.

Currently, there is no evidence that life exists on Enceladus, but the conditions on the moon are thought to be favorable for life. The presence of liquid water, organic molecules, and hydrothermal vents all suggest that Enceladus could be a potential home for life.

Equillibrium: The thermodynamics of Enceladus's oceans are complex. The heat from the moon's interior is balanced by the heat lost to space. The water in the ocean is also thought to be in a state of equilibrium, with the salt and other dissolved substances evenly distributed.

Age: The ocean is thought to be relatively young, with an age of about 100 million years.

Future missions to Enceladus will continue to study the moon's oceans and search for signs of life.