Posted on 11/30/2005 10:08:05 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The rocks are rounded. It seems unlikely to me that with such extreme weather, there is no liquid.
"Scientists described the moon's freezing temperatures: 290 degrees below zero on the surface."
Without free oxygen, all you get are some life precursors: tar, black sticky stuff.
Well then, I would suggest inventing a high-quality low temperature camera before making the 800,000,000 trip.
Maybe, maybe not. I don't know what the atmospheric density is on the surface, but with temps that low it could be very high. If the atmospheric density is higher than Earths, heavy scouring could take place with a much smaller amount of wind than you would expect on Earth.
The rounding of the rocks may be caused by spalling because of temperature extremes. Erosion may or may not be a factor.
Also, keep in mind that Saturns rings may be the result of a planetary breakup, and that there's a LOT of loose rock flying around in that system. This "gravel" may not be terrestrial to the moon at all, and could have been rounded by heating as they entered the atmosphere.
This moon is a whole lot more interesting to me than Mars. It's a shame they did not have a more complex lander.
Nice photo.
Looks like the camera is looking thru a keyhole.
Not neccesarily. It could cause some fierce reactions, but the low temperature of the atmosphere is going to limit the spread of any open flame by quickly robbing it of energy. I just looked it up, and Titan has an atmosphere 60% denser than the one on Earth. That dense atmosphere would also slow the spread of any flame, allowing the fire to burn out all of its own oxygen...it would effectively self-extinguish.
Of course, this assumes that the methane density is high enough to maintain a sustained burn anyway. I haven't found anything on the actual relative densities of the gasses sampled by the probe, so I'm not sure if there's even enough fuel there to ignite.
That's why they compare Titan to early earth: before free oxygen. First fix all the combustables out of the air, methane, etc., then start liberating oxygen. Do it the other way and you'll end up with a nice fireworks show and a burnt-out cinder.
Wouldn't that be a trip if Titan were made of oil?
Liquid Methane rain. What a bit o' weirdness!
It is. If we can get to the point of moving significant quantities of materials among the various planets and moons, there are plenty of resources to make it possible to develop the moon, for starters, and Mars, and maybe later on, Venus.
Good point.
Not a nice place!
Interesting thoughts. Indeed, there seems to be some similarity between what we think the the ring material looks like and this apparent gravel.
I blame Bush...
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