Cassini sees new evidence of Titan lakes
Posted: Wed, Mar 14, 2007, 8:42 AM ET (1242 GMT)
Planetary scientists reported this week that the radar on the Cassini spacecraft has found new evidence of lakes of liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Radar images released Tuesday showed what appears to be a large lake in Titan's high northern latitudes; the lake is larger than any of the Great Lakes in North America. Scientists said they don't have conclusive proof that the features are lakes, but that is the most likely explanation given their smooth surfaces in the radar images. If they are lakes, they are most likely filled with a mixture of liquid ethane and methane. Scientists had long suspected that the surface of Titan would feature lakes or even large seas of liquid hydrocarbons, but observations to date have revealed only spotty evidence for small lakes, primarily near the moon's north pole.
Planetary scientists reported this week that the radar on the Cassini spacecraft has found new evidence of lakes of liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Radar images released Tuesday showed what appears to be a large lake in Titan's high northern latitudes; the lake is larger than any of the Great Lakes in North America. Scientists said they don't have conclusive proof that the features are lakes, but that is the most likely explanation given their smooth surfaces in the radar images. If they are lakes, they are most likely filled with a mixture of liquid ethane and methane. Scientists had long suspected that the surface of Titan would feature lakes or even large seas of liquid hydrocarbons, but observations to date have revealed only spotty evidence for small lakes, primarily near the moon's north pole.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, June 22
Detection of semi-heavy water ice around young sunlike star
Netherlands Research School for Astronomy — 5:10 pm ET (2110 GMT) New Global Research Center a Rosetta Stone for Understanding the Universe at All Scales
Institute for Advanced Study — 5:09 pm ET (2109 GMT) A New GPS for the Intergalactic Medium: Astronomers Have Found the Home Address for Universe's "Missing" Matter
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics — 5:08 pm ET (2108 GMT) ESA’s Proba-3 mission captures first images of the solar corona using an artificial eclipse created by two satellites
Sener — 5:06 pm ET (2106 GMT) Spaceport America and the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance Join Forces Through a Collaborative MOU
Spaceport America — 5:04 pm ET (2104 GMT) |
