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bassplayer142
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http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2432The existence of oceans or lakes of liquid methane on Saturn's moon Titan was predicted more than 20 years ago. But with a dense haze preventing a closer look it has not been possible to confirm their presence. Until the Cassini flyby of July 22, 2006, that is.
B. Elliott said:Not really new news, just further confirmation.
Liquid Lakes on Titan
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=2432
Until now, however, scientists were unsure how the methane got from the ground to the sky and vice versa. Although rain was the obvious candidate, no one had been able to actually see it raining. Titan is about 1 billion miles from Earth, so charting the local weather is a challenge.
The two telescopes snapped images of the moon as the morning sun caught its leading edge, revealing a thick methane cloud bank and a steady drizzle.
The drizzle appears to dissipate after about 10:30 a.m. Titan time, the research team said. Because Titan rotates so slowly, the morning sprinkle lasts about three Earth days, conditions that might test the hardiest Brit.
The discovery of liquid on Saturn's moon Titan is significant because it is the first time we have found evidence of liquid on a celestial body other than Earth. This has led scientists to believe that Titan may be capable of supporting life.
Liquid on Titan was discovered through observations made by the Cassini spacecraft, which has been orbiting Saturn since 2004. The spacecraft used radar imaging to identify large, smooth areas on Titan's surface that are consistent with liquid bodies.
The liquid discovered on Titan is a combination of methane and ethane, which are both hydrocarbons. These are the same types of molecules that make up fossil fuels on Earth.
The presence of liquid on Titan challenges our previous understanding of the moon as a cold, dry, and inactive world. It suggests that Titan has a complex geological and atmospheric system, making it a more intriguing target for further exploration.
While the presence of liquid on Titan is an exciting discovery, it is still uncertain if there is life on the moon. The liquid on Titan is mostly made up of methane and ethane, which are not suitable for life as we know it. However, some scientists believe that there could be alternative forms of life that could potentially thrive in these conditions.