spacetoday.net: Cassini sees evidence of Titan volcanism

Cassini sees evidence of Titan volcanism

Posted: Thu, Nov 11, 2004, 8:01 AM ET (1301 GMT)
Cassini radar image of Titan ice flow (NASA/JPL)

Radar images by NASA's Cassini spacecraft have revealed features scientists believe are created by a kind of volcanic activity that involves molten ice. The images, released this week at the AAS Division for Planetary Sciences conference in Louisville, show streaks that scientists said are most like caused by flowing material. Those streaks, they noted, are the best evidence to date of "cryovolcanism", volcanic activity that uses molten ice rather than molten rock. Scientists also noted that Cassini data have not shown any evidence of large bodies of liquid hydrocarbons, features long speculated to exist on the moon. Smaller liquid bodies might still exist, they noted.