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Titanic Saturn

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."

4 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. A thick atmosphere in low gravity? by Teckla · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Inquiring minds want to know: how does Titan keep its thick atmosphere in such low (15% of Earth) gravity?

    -Teckla

  2. Re:color me ignorant, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Right, because bringing MORE hydrocarbons to Earth is EXACTLY what we want to do. Forget about the renewable energy resources that are already here. Let's import pollutants from another PLANET!

  3. Re:color me ignorant, but... by HeghmoH · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It depends on what you mean by "important".

    If by "important", you mean "discovery of indicators of something I can either talk to or eat", it's not important. Almost certainly, nothing Cassini produces will be important according to that definition. You may as well stop paying attention now.

    --
    Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  4. Re:color me ignorant, but... by sploxx · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > Would somebody please explain to me why each of these things is important?

    Because it's just interesting. That's all. People want to know. Why do you read post on slashdot? Probably because of the same reason.