Saturn's largest moon Titan, Frozen Lakes
March 12th 2008 07:18
Another misty morning here on Titan and chance of intermittent methane haze on the way. This would be a typical weather broadcast if you lived on Saturn's moon Titan, sure the view of Saturn would be spectacular if you could see it through the passing haze.
Titan is Saturn’s largest moon. Not a pleasant place to live with temperatures in the region of-179 °Celsius.
Titan, is far too cold for liquid water. Instead, the morning mist consists of tiny droplets of methane. A newly conducted study suggests The daily drizzle may be the result of prevailing winds that are driven upwards by the mountainous region, causing cooling and condensation.
The Keck Telescope shows a nearly global cloud cover at high elevations and, dreary as it may seem, a widespread and persistent morning drizzle of methane hangs over the foothills of Titan's major continent, Xanadu.
The mist first detected by spectroscopic observations with the Keck telescope in Hawaii, US, and the Very Large Telescope in Chile explains why there is a daily increase in the opacity of the lowest portion of Titan's atmosphere. The Cassini spacecraft has started to explore Titan's south polar region with its radar and has found the first lakes seen in this radar image.
Cassini has already mapped about 60% of Titan northern polar region and has found more than 400 lakes.
The lakes consists of mostly Methane and ethane rain scientists studying Cassini’s data believe the lakes fill depressions originally formed by volcanism or by the dissolution of rock, a process similar to what occurs on Earth.
Titan is Saturn’s largest moon. Not a pleasant place to live with temperatures in the region of-179 °Celsius.
Titan, is far too cold for liquid water. Instead, the morning mist consists of tiny droplets of methane. A newly conducted study suggests The daily drizzle may be the result of prevailing winds that are driven upwards by the mountainous region, causing cooling and condensation.
close up look at the Lake district on Titan's northern polar region
The Keck Telescope shows a nearly global cloud cover at high elevations and, dreary as it may seem, a widespread and persistent morning drizzle of methane hangs over the foothills of Titan's major continent, Xanadu.
The mist first detected by spectroscopic observations with the Keck telescope in Hawaii, US, and the Very Large Telescope in Chile explains why there is a daily increase in the opacity of the lowest portion of Titan's atmosphere. The Cassini spacecraft has started to explore Titan's south polar region with its radar and has found the first lakes seen in this radar image.
Radar image of Lakes
The lakes consists of mostly Methane and ethane rain scientists studying Cassini’s data believe the lakes fill depressions originally formed by volcanism or by the dissolution of rock, a process similar to what occurs on Earth.
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Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
The wonderful Peter Yang's No.1 blog
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Looking forward to that satellite that's passing through the water plume, but I don't think that's Titan...
Comment by CarlCan
Astro Earth
It is possible that some form of organic life may exist on titan there are some pretty weird life forms out there, I will have more on that in another blog.
As far as taking a fishing trip I would recommend a welding torch!!.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
It certainly gives the song, 'Purple Rain,' new meaning!
I am just eading about Saturn's position during the 2012 galactic alignment, noting with curiosity that it'll be locked into Libra for the transition... old father time keeps the balance, huh?
Interesting about Titan having vulcanism, our own moon looks drab in comparison with it's zero activity, but then I have just finished reading about how it was 'built' and unlike any other moon in our 'neck of the woods' ... postulates and interesting theory ...some people are way out there, aren't they?
It'll be interesting to see the new mapping images - keep us posted.
Lilla ...
Comment by CarlCan
Astro Earth
Yes I remember purple rain ( the song)
I agree our moon is not that spectacular when you consider the moons of Jupiter Saturn, even Uranus and Neptune. most have great looking active moons.
I have some new videos taken over the surface of our moon. I will post some in a later blog.