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Posted on 08/28/2013 11:08:38 PM PDT by BenLurkin
One implication of these new findings relates to whether or not Titan's interior is separated into distinct layers. If researchers have underestimated Titan's gravity field, one might suspect its core is a giant blob of matter that is not made up of distinct layers as one would expect from such a large body. For instance, Earth is separated into a crust, mantle and core, and even large asteroids such as Vesta seem to have interiors divided into several layers.
"Maybe Titan is a mixture of ice and rock from the core nearly all the way out, and it's only in the last part near its surface that it's differentiated into ice and water," Hemingway said. "But we could be wrong there."
To help solve this mystery, "what we need is a Titan orbiter..."
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Heck. Why not ask to land a drill rig there?
If it is just ice and rock then how did all of those petroleum products get there? Dinosaurs??? ROFLMAO!!!!
Sounds delicious.
That it does!
Hydrocarbons does not necessarily equal petroleum. Most of the “liquid” on Titan is methane.
In before the Russians claim to have discovered it first.
Bingo!
Little cherry soda and you have the makings of a slushee.
Thick icy shell and bizarre interior... it’s why I told her good bye.
What a neat article to read when you can’t sleep! Thank you!!!!!
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Can we ignite it for awesome fireworks?
Yeah, “petroleum” is a real unique hydrocarbon. In what way, again?
Petroleum implies long-chain hydrocarbons, the so-called “fossil fuel”. Generally, they require high temps/pressures to form. Methane on the other hand can form (and does) under lower temps.
Have any theories on how the methane and ethane originated?
You can if you can round up enough oxygen. Methane won’t burn without it.
FR while dozing, getting ready to doze, or trying to doze, is just about the best thing in the cosmos! :)
Lots of simple (and not-so-simple) compounds formed as the planetary nebula coalesced and was irradiated by the sun. Unfiltered ultraviolet light provides the energy for lots of reactions like that.
This is a distinction without any significant difference; long or short chain, they are all hydrocarbons.
It’s only been in my lifetime that there has been any real concession by some that ANY hydrocarbon, even methane, can have other than a biologic origin.
It might be that nowhere on Titan is there sufficient temperature and pressure for the long chains to form. But there is on Earth, fortunately.
I bet it is a smelly place.
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