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Titanic Saturn

Posted by michael on from the your-link-fu-is-strong-young-grasshopper dept.

barakn writes "Using the Crab Nebula as an x-ray source, scientists have observed Titan's x-ray shadow to get a preliminary estimate of the extent of its outer atmosphere. On the same page, another article discusses the possibility that the hydrocarbon seas of Titan bear waves, albeit slow-moving and widely spaced, 7 times higher than waves on Earth (additional wave links here, here, and here). And Cassini-Huygens has snapped a photo of Saturn showing "two small, faint dark spots" in the southern hemisphere (this link has convenient arrows pointing at them, or here). Cassini-Huygens will achieve Saturn orbit insertion on July 1st. Huygens will detach and enter Titan's atmosphere in January, 2005."

9 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. "Titanic Saturn" by pwroberts · · Score: 4, Funny

    They'll discover icebergs up there next...

    (Sorry!)

    1. Re:"Titanic Saturn" by black+mariah · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't forget the hairstylists, consultants, and telephone sanitizers.

      --
      'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
  2. The Sirens of Titan by CheeseburgerBlue · · Score: 2, Funny

    1) Titan looks like a nice place for life to grow up. We're hoping to meet friends.

    2) If we do meet friends, we're hoping they're sirens. I call the redhead.

    --
    I am from a small, grease-loving country in the north called Ca-na-da.
  3. Of all the interesting moons in this solar system by JessLeah · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...i.e. *kof kof* EUROPA... why Titan?

    Hydrocarbon seas. Could there be interest here by the oil industry? Makes you wonder... ;)

    --
    Honey, I shrunk the Cygwin
  4. Re:color me ignorant, but... by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 2, Funny
    To quote:
    Titan bears waves, albeit slow-moving and widely spaced, 7 times higher than waves on Earth
    Huge waves! Titan is going the surfers paradise of the future!
  5. Oily sludge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    The model assumes Titan is pockmarked with seas made of 70 per cent ethane, 25 per cent methane, and 5 per cent nitrogen, and partially coated with an oily sludge.
    That's no moon, that's a teenager!
  6. Re:color me ignorant, but... by essreenim · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah.. lets turn Titan into a planet sized brewery. Its got all the chemicals we need in abundance. With all that Etane, we can produce the ethanol needed for a good beer. Extraterrestrial beer!! I wanna drink!

  7. Re:Data points! by no+longer+myself · · Score: 2, Funny
    We barely understand weather on Earth

    Don't tell that to the local news/meteorologist in my neighborhood:

    "For the most accurate, up to date, team coverage that affects your life: Turn to the most dependable weather station in the area!" These guys really understand the weather! I mean, they're right almost 51% of the time!

  8. Re:color me ignorant, but... by stef49 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The dots are not important!

    The arrows are because they prove that there is an intelligent life on Saturn.

    4 big arrows like those can't be caused by a natural phenomenom.