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"Kissing Lakes" On Titan
Cassini-Huygens ^ | 9/26/2006 | JPS/NASA/JPL

Posted on 09/27/2006 3:19:27 AM PDT by Dallas59



This lake is part of a larger image taken by the Cassini radar instrument during a flyby of Saturn's moon Titan on Sept. 23, 2006. It shows clear shorelines that are reminiscent of terrestrial lakes. With Titan's colder temperatures and hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere, however, the lakes likely contain a combination of methane and ethane, not water.

Centered near 74 degrees north, 65 degrees west longitude, this lake is roughly 20 kilometers by 25 kilometers (12 to 16 miles) across. It features several narrow or angular bays, including a broad peninsula that on Earth would be evidence that the surrounding terrain is higher and confines the liquid. Broader bays, such as the one seen at right, might result when the terrain is gentler, as for example on a beach.



This Cassini radar image shows two lakes "kissing" each other on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.

The image from a flyby on Sept. 23, 2006, covers an area about 60 kilometers (37 miles) wide by 40 kilometers (25 miles) high.

This pass was primarily dedicated to the ion and neutral mass spectrometer instrument, so although, the volume of radar data was small, scientists were amazed to see Earth-like lakes. With Titan's colder temperatures and hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere, however, the lakes likely contain a combination of methane and ethane, not water.

In this image, near 73 degrees north latitude, 46 degrees west longitude, two lakes are seen, each 20 to 25 kilometers (12 to 16 miles) across. They are joined by a relatively narrow channel. The lake on the right has lighter patches within it, indicating that it may be slowly drying out as the northern summer approaches.





TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cassini; saturn; titan

1 posted on 09/27/2006 3:19:30 AM PDT by Dallas59
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To: Dallas59

Neat photos.


2 posted on 09/27/2006 3:23:47 AM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: bwteim

Hope we go back with a better lander.


3 posted on 09/27/2006 3:25:16 AM PDT by Dallas59 (Muslims Are Only Guests In Western Countries)
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To: bwteim

4 posted on 09/27/2006 3:29:53 AM PDT by Dallas59 (Muslims Are Only Guests In Western Countries)
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To: Dallas59

What kind of bait should one use in these lakes?


5 posted on 09/27/2006 3:33:13 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Dallas59
Hope we go back with a better lander.

As long as it's not to Europa.

6 posted on 09/27/2006 3:33:35 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob ("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
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To: Dallas59
Nothing like an ice cold dip on a hot afternoon, eh?

Everybody into the pool!

7 posted on 09/27/2006 3:38:20 AM PDT by sig226 (There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who do not.)
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To: Izzy Dunne; Dallas59
Why, "Titan Spoons - Built West Coast Tough!" of course! Just get really big ones...


From http://www.okitackle.com/titanspoons.shtml

8 posted on 09/27/2006 3:42:47 AM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: Izzy Dunne
Try a flame thrower or dynamite.
9 posted on 09/27/2006 4:35:11 AM PDT by carumba (The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. Groucho)
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To: Izzy Dunne
What kind of bait should one use in these lakes?

A nice chunk of warm dry ice on a hook.

10 posted on 09/27/2006 4:36:31 AM PDT by dirtboy (This tagline has been photoshopped)
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To: Dallas59
Countng down to first political photoshop...

C'mon... somebody's working on it right now, I can feel it.

11 posted on 09/27/2006 4:39:54 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: Dallas59

Mua'Dib?


12 posted on 09/27/2006 4:42:27 AM PDT by LIConFem (Just opened a new seafood restaurant in Great Britain, called "Squid Pro Quid")
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To: Dallas59
"...the lakes likely contain a combination of methane and ethane, not water."

I wonder what sort of erosion characteristics these chemicals have,assuming the're liquid.

I wonder if it moves,has currents or waves.

Great pictures.

Thanks for the post.It's inspiring stuff.

13 posted on 09/27/2006 4:49:48 AM PDT by mitch5501 (typical)
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To: Dallas59

I think the lake on the right is slippin' some tongue...


14 posted on 09/27/2006 6:00:05 AM PDT by rock_lobsta (Offending liberals since 1993)
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To: Hatteras

The one on the left looks a bit like Clinton and the one on the right looks like a ferret-faced Shillary.


15 posted on 09/27/2006 6:16:48 AM PDT by Tokra (I think I'll retire to Bedlam.)
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To: Dallas59
I would like to know how all the hydrocarbon, methane and ethan is present. Did they have a bunch of dinosaur too?
16 posted on 09/27/2006 1:01:11 PM PDT by John 6.66=Mark of the Beast?
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To: Dallas59

Like the seas on the moon, no doubt.


17 posted on 09/27/2006 1:02:31 PM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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