Posted on 01/14/2005 3:14:36 PM PST by blam
First images from Titan
14 January 2005 This raw image was returned by the ESA Huygens DISR camera after the probe descended through the atmosphere of Titan. It shows the surface of Titan with ice blocks strewn around. The size and distance of the blocks will be determined when the image is properly processed.
http://www.esa.int/images/landing03_L2.jpg
First images from Titan
14 January 2005 This is one of the first raw images returned by the ESA Huygens probe during its successful descent. It was taken from an altitude of 16.2 kilometres with a resolution of approximately 40 metres per pixel. It apparently shows short, stubby drainage channels leading to a shoreline.
14 January 2005 This is one of the first raw images returned by the ESA Huygens probe during its successful descent.It was taken at an altitude of 8 kilometres with a resolution of 20 metres per pixel. It shows what could be the landing site, with shorelines and boundaries between raised ground and flooded plains.
According to the news cast I just watched last hour on NASA TV, the color photos will be processed along with the chemical analysis of Titan's atmosphere, in a few days.
Here we go again.
Close?
They use a black n white camera for telemetry purposes. The BNW transmits less pixels. They can put color filters in front of the camera, take multiple pictures, then when the images arrive back, NASA can create a color picture.
Its pretty slick, because they can look at other wave lengths the human eye can not see.
So Titan is not that different then Earth's moon.
Titan is as different from Earth's moon as we are from it. Titan has a thick atmosphere, possibly liquid oceans, and ice. The moon has no atmosphere at all and nothing liquid anywhere -- just dry rocks and dust.
Yeah, but every dry moon rock is a valuable souvenir...
Reminder to self - learn how to use the spell check! Sheez
Ice blocks? water? what's next....global warming???
Yes, my husband thinks I'm nuts.
Here is a question for general opinions:
Saturn (Titan) is 9.6 AU from the sun. The surface of Titan is under cloud cover. All of this adds up to very little sunlight on the surface.
The pictures are not only remarkable clear, but you can see the horizon. It looks like the ice blocks have shadows, which, if it is under diffuse sunlight, there would not be shadows.
I'm not wearing tin foil, but truely don't understand the mechanics of these pictures.
Maybe the probe carries a light.
There would still be shadows under limited, diffused light.
About the shadows:
1. You're forgeting the intense reflection from Saturn of Sunlight. Saturn in one of the brightest bodies in the solar system. Also Titan always has the same face turned toward Saturn and Huygens is landing on that face.
2. Image intensifiers on the cameras. Just like our nightvision, we're amplifying the available light and shadows would still exist because the available light is greater in none shaded areas and less in shaded areas, thereby showing shadows.
It was an honest question, I didn't think you had tin-foil on even if others did.
--Jason
http://www.jasoncoleman.com
ugh, spelling, sorry
There's something odd about that picture. I can't quite put my finger on it.
You have to keep in mind that hardware can see many more things and in much lower light than the human eye. This is also another reason for non-color pictures.
On an unrelated topic.. I never could put my finger on the reason I recall liking the old Battlestar Galactica series.. until I happened to catch an old episode on TV today..
"I came from a world where the people believed that the opposite of war was "peace". And we found out the hard way that the opposite of war is more often slavery. And that strength--STRENGTH ALONE can support freedom."
Apollo's Speech from "Experiment in Terra", Battlestar Galactica, 1979
Looks kind of dry, dusty, too. Maybe the oil is frozen.
LOL!
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