Posted on 03/18/2014 1:25:36 PM PDT by don-o
Scientists believe they have detected the first liquid waves on the surface of another world.
The signature of isolated ripples was observed in a sea called Punga Mare on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.
However, these seas are filled not with water, but with hydrocarbons like methane and ethane.
These exist in their liquid state on Titan, where the surface temperature averages about -180C.
Planetary scientist Jason Barnes discussed details of his findings at the 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas this week. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
We think we've found the first waves outside the Earth”
Dr Jason Barnes University of Idaho
Titan is a strange, looking-glass version of Earth with a substantial atmosphere and a seasonal cycle. Wind and rain shape the surface to form river channels, seas, dunes and shorelines.
But much of what's familiar is also turned sideways: the moon's mountains and dune fields are made of ice, rather than rock or sand, and liquid hydrocarbons take up many of the roles played by water on Earth.
The vast majority of Titan's lakes and seas are concentrated around the north polar region. Just one of these bodies of liquid - Ligeia Mare - is estimated to contain about 9,000 cubic km of mostly liquid methane, equating to about 40 times the proven reserves of oil and gas on Earth.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Wouldn’t want to mix it with even a poor scotch.
So...smoking on this planet is probably a bad idea?
“It would be very cool to see.”
See? Yes. Smell? The moon’s gotta smell like a giant fart!
No ethanol?
I don’t want to go then...
Find me the moon that tastes like a good 18 year Oban or even a 15 year Macallan and I’ll finance the journey myself.
In an environment without oxygen, methane and ethane (depending on the ratio of atoms) are the lowest energy combinations for that material. Here on earth, with sufficient oxygen, water and CO2 are the lowest energy combinations.
Entropy exists in Chemistry, not just heat, motion, etc. The 2nd law of Thermodynamics is not limited to the earth.
No problem. It isn't going to burn without oxygen.
Go with the eCig...
The cases that enclose the big electric generators used in utility power plants are filled with pure hydrogen.
This lake sounds like a great vacation destination for certain political hacks currently afflicting and embarrassing us in washtoon, DC. Maybe we can send them up there?
It is amazing how much scientists know about everything that goes on (when it comes to Fossil Fuels). I was reading an article today about how the Universe at the point of the Big Bang started from something smaller than an electron and "Voila' the whole Universe". This is from scientists who don't seem to have a problem with the scientific principle behind this.
Yeah...it is good. It doesn’t compare to “Slapstick” but it is worth the read.
Wait I thought that methane was caused by rotting vegetation, dino’s, organic matter????
Could it be that crude oil will just keep showing up no matter how hard we try to harvest it all?
methane supply is unlimited. Let’s build a methane engine and exploit Titan. Shipping costs will be high.
Sirens of Titan (Al Stewart)
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In an environment like Titan without sufficient oxygen, methane, ethane and the like are the lowest energy states for the atoms of carbon and hydrogen. Ethane and the like will be the result depending upon the ratio of carbon to hydrogen.
It would be like surprised there was water and carbon dioxide on earth.
Ah. Thank you.
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