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Titan's Alien Thunder

Posted by Hemos on from the good-news-if-true dept.

An anonymous reader writes "What is not being reported much about the fascinating Huygens descent to the surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is its remarkable microphone. In the silence of space, the probe offers a platform for listening to alien thunder while watching the lightning strike on this alien world--the only moon with an atmosphere thicker than our terrestrial one. The probe detaches from Cassini on Christmas for its atmospheric entry on 14 January 2005. The landing target on Titan borders a bright-dark region thought to be an oil-rich shoreline. Huygens can float for a few hours while still broadcasting if it lands in a lake of oil."

11 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. A Lake of Oil? by Moby+Cock · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is NASA going to let a contract to Hallibuton to develop the resource?

  2. "Liberation" of Titan by john_sheu · · Score: 5, Funny

    "lake of oil"...WMD's... We all know the drill.

    1. Re:"Liberation" of Titan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It is not about oil.

      We have to bring values of democracy to this alien world. In addition to this,if you ever played UFO or XCom you should know that aliens are engaged in terror activities and CIA found solid proof of connection between Al Qaeda and aliens and Bin Laden is hiding in mountains of Titan. :)

    2. Re:"Liberation" of Titan by ChristTrekker · · Score: 5, Funny

      And here we are, already shooting a missile at it. ;)

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  3. In space no one can hear you scream by codepunk · · Score: 5, Funny

    That being said I wonder if the accelerometers are installed in the right direction?

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  4. Re:Alien thunder by Hatta · · Score: 5, Funny

    hese are much easier to form "abiotically", i.e. without life. In face the gas giant outer planets Uranus and Neptune have large amounts of methane in their atmospheres.

    So, Uranus us full of methane. Who'd have thought.

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  5. A lake of oil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    At last, a lake of oil that Cap'n Hazelwood and the Exxon Valdez can enjoy a good bit of drunken sailing in without worrying about the resulting oil spills causing a problem.

  6. Re:Alien thunder by nospmiS+remoH · · Score: 5, Funny

    I suddenly had this vision of Huygens accidentally causing a spark and the whole planet errupting in a huge ball of fire [1]:

    Guy at NASA: "Woops, didin't see that one comming!"
    Other Guy at NASA: "Dude, that was aaawwesome!"

    [1] - I realize there are probably a dozen reasons why this is not really a possibility (i.e. not enough oxygen, yada, yada)

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  7. Re:Oil? by Erik+Hensema · · Score: 5, Funny
    The clouds of ethanol in outer space don't make me assume that there are deep-space breweries

    I'm still keeping my hopes up.

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  8. Re:Alien thunder by AxB_teeth · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, Uranus us full of methane. Who'd have thought.

    Wait a minute...

    Hey everyone, I think I've found the source of this "Alien Thunder".

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    However,
  9. Oblig: Futurama quote. by Cervantes · · Score: 4, Funny

    Professor: Now, Fry, scientists renamed Uranus in 2256 to put an end to that silly joke.

    It's now called "Urectum".

    ->Note: Quoted from memory, not accurate, deal. :)

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