In this near-infrared mosaic, the sun shines off of the seas on Saturn’s moon, Titan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/University of Idaho
Posted on 11/03/2014 5:34:44 PM PST by BenLurkin
That’s what the Sun looks like reflecting off the seas of Titan, that moon of Saturn that excites astrobiologists because its chemistry resembles what early Earth could have looked like. This image represents the first time this “sunglint” and Titan’s northern polar seas have been captured in one mosaic, NASA said.
What’s more, if you look closely at the sea surrounding the sunlight, you can see what scientists dub a “bathtub ring.” Besides looking pretty, this image from the Cassini spacecraft shows the huge sea (called Kraken Mare) was actually larger at some point in Titan’s past.
“The southern portion of Kraken Mare … displays a ‘bathtub ring’ — a bright margin of evaporate deposits — which indicates that the sea was larger at some point in the past and has become smaller due to evaporation,” NASA stated. “The deposits are material left behind after the methane and ethane liquid evaporates, somewhat akin to the saline crust on a salt flat.”
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
In this near-infrared mosaic, the sun shines off of the seas on Saturn’s moon, Titan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/University of Idaho
Looks like a big ol’ opal.
The same good ol’ Sun. What a picture.
Looks like east of Amarillo.
Do I need a /s?
I wonder if the fly fishing is any good?
Thanks martin_fierro, extra to APoD.
Wow. I’m trying to figure out what a robot explorer of Titan would look like and be made of.
And whether it would rock ‘em and sock ‘em?
A planet that smells like a huge intergalactic fart bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.