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2007-01-05 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by Bobby 2007-01-05 06:15|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11137 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Hmm, but what if you were to turn Jupiter into a small sun! Then life could take root on Titan! Somebody could get a science fiction novel out of that.

Posted by Jonathan">Jonathan 2007-01-05 06:49|| 2007-01-05 06:49|| Front Page Top

#2 A molecule of the compound lasts several tens of millions of years before it is broken up by sunlight.

How much solar flux does the surface of Titan get?

Posted by eLarson 2007-01-05 10:04|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2007-01-05 10:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Or maybe this is where farts go when they die?

Posted by OyVey1 2007-01-05 10:38|| 2007-01-05 10:38|| Front Page Top

#4 How much solar flux does the surface of Titan get?

Too lazy to look for numbers, but it must be pretty dim what with the inverse-square law and all.

Plus, IIRC from chemistry class, reaction rates are halved for every 10 degree C drop in temp.

Posted by SteveS 2007-01-05 11:01|| 2007-01-05 11:01|| Front Page Top

#5 No prob- I will check it out in the millennium!
Psalms 8:3
I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place.

Posted by Jim 2007-01-05 11:19|| 2007-01-05 11:19|| Front Page Top

AFP as a source?...
The FRENCH? This is RANTBURG FerGodssakes
Go to the DIRECT Source!

JPL Cassini-Huygens Probe Webpage Story

Lake Characteristics:

Radar-dark patches are interpreted as lakes based on their very low radar reflectivity and morphological similarities to lakes, including associated channels and location in topographic depressions.
Radar-dark surfaces are smooth and most likely liquid, rock, ice or organics. More than 75 radar-dark patches or lakes were seen, ranging from 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) to more than 70 kilometers (43 miles) across.
Some lakes appear partly dry, while others seem liquid-filled. Some of the partly filled lakes may never have filled fully, or may have partly evaporated at some point in the past. The dry lakes have margins or rims and a radar brightness similar to the rest of the surrounding terrain, making them appear devoid of liquid.
The varying states of how full the lakes are suggest that lakes in this region of Titan might be temporary on some unknown timescale.

Approximately 15 of the dark patches seem filled and show no clear evidence of erosion. These dark patches resemble terrestrial lakes confined within impact basins (for example, Clearwater Lakes in Canada) or within volcanic calderas (for example, Crater Lake, Oregon). The nest-like nature of these lakes and their limited range of sizes make it unlikely that they originated from an impact. A volcanic origin for the depressions is possible, given their appearance.
Some lakes have steep margins and very distinct edges, suggesting a topographic rim. These lakes are consistent with seepage or groundwater drainage lakes.
Other lakes have diffuse, more scalloped edges, with a gradual decrease in radar brightness towards the center of the lake. These lakes are more likely to be associated with channels, and may be either drainage lakes or groundwater drainage lakes.
Yet other lakes have curvy channel-like extensions, similar in appearance to terrestrial flooded river valleys (for example Lake Powell).
Bright patches near the lake edges could be small islands peeking through the surface. Floating "icebergs" are unlikely because most materials would not float in liquid hydrocarbons.

Looks like Minnesota... Aha! now I understand the problem with the Somali Cabbies....

Posted by BigEd 2007-01-05 12:19|| 2007-01-05 12:19|| Front Page Top

#7 I see a woman with big breasts.

Posted by wxjames 2007-01-05 12:51|| 2007-01-05 12:51|| Front Page Top

#8 #6: That looks like the nice Stilton Cheese I had for New Years!

Posted by Chuck Darwin 2007-01-05 14:20|| 2007-01-05 14:20|| Front Page Top

#9 WXjames _ that would be one of the Sirens of Titan

Posted by Angirong Gliper3474 2007-01-05 15:19|| 2007-01-05 15:19|| Front Page Top

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