Titan!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:55 pm

Well it got me excited!

Radio astronomers confirm Huygens entry in the atmosphere of Titan

For more information visit.
Huygens Probe

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:12 pm

Yeah, that's pretty cool. So now's the time it's supposed to have reached Titan? Will be interesting to hear what that lil' probe finds out. Is this the one that's suppsed to include a small drilling equipment? Or is it just supposed to study the surface as the flash-anim suggests, for later probes? Would be cool to know what's under that thick ice that Titans covered in..

Tired Tracks · Post by **Tired Tracks** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:30 pm

If I recall correctly my astronomy teacher says Titan is the only moon known of that has an atmosphere like earth, and thats what this probe is about, taking a look around and the like. I think he said the drilling was going to be on a different hunk of rock.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:16 pm

well Titan resembles earth at an early stage of life. - so its like going back in time on earth.

There not entirely sure if its surface is covered in liquid or rock, so they might get lucky and land on rock to take some samples or if it falls into liquid the tools can also take liquid samples, and it can record wave hieghts etc...

its also going to take a few humdred images on the decsent, but again they are unsure, the atmophere might be so thick u cant see. but hopefull fingers crossed it wont be. how cool.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:39 pm

Is there any word on sending something to Europa? I'm still waiting for that venture.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:59 pm

Europa! Of course! That's the one. All covered in ice. That would be cool. So Titans got an earth-like atmospere? You learn something new everyday, don't you?

Post by **Computron** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:01 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote:Is there any word on sending something to Europa? I'm still waiting for that venture.

All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landings there.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:27 pm

Predabot wrote:So Titans got an earth-like atmospere?

No it doesn't.

It does have the privilidge of being the only moon with a substantial atmosphere, though. But the atmosphere being anything resembling the Earth's is very remote, due to the distinct lack of temperature.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:40 pm

Exclusive picture from Titan probe that NASA doesn't want you to see

Stolen from the arrogant but quite funny one.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:39 pm

Oh, the Titan thing's not so cool now, then.

Jets has already been there.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:42 pm

Interesting. Titan's surface is ringed with an ever-backwards-moving line of break-dancing bug-eyed stick figures. I wonder if the methane causes them to want to dance, or if it merely resembles dancing but they're in reality just trying not to freeze to death surrounded by that much ice. Orange ice at that or so I hear. Mmm, citrus moon.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:44 pm

Señior's Covenant wrote:Interesting. Titan's surface is ringed with an ever-backwards-moving line of break-dancing bug-eyed stick figures. I wonder if the methane causes them to want to dance, or if it merely resembles dancing but they're in reality just trying not to freeze to death surrounded by that much ice. Orange ice at that or so I hear. Mmm, citrus moon.

Well, considering the methane content, it's more likely to be umm.... well, just don't suck the yellow ice, know what I mean?

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:39 pm

another rocky planet surface - cant we ever land next to a cool cliff or somthing more interesting on the rocky levels...

Post by **Best First** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:54 pm

Jetfire wrote: Stolen from the arrogant but quite funny one.

me?

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:01 pm

Close. Maddox.

He should have stated, "without a box-like head".

Galvatron91 · Post by **Galvatron91** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:25 am

Best First wrote:
Jetfire wrote: Stolen from the arrogant but quite funny one.
me?

I was going to say Brend...

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:18 am

I heard the guys at Quest3D.com might be working on something for ESA. Could it be related to this project?

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:43 pm

Best First wrote:
Jetfire wrote: Stolen from the arrogant but quite funny one.
me?

Nah, Snarlos

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:57 pm

Dylan wrote:I heard the guys at Quest3D.com might be working on something for ESA. Could it be related to this project?

Nah.

The guys at *SA usually get their computer graphics done prior to the mission's launch. That way, programmes like The Sky At Night can have Patrick Moore saying things like "And, in the near future, the Optiplex 1000 Near-Mars Interferometerscope will determine the distance between the Earth and the other side of the universe to an accuracy of around a million years. Oh, my monocle's falling out!" as a voice over to it, while the graphics are showing about half a dozen indistinct silvery blobs doing a crazy dance against a starlight background.

Seriously, Cassini-Huygens launched 7 years ago, and I remember seeing CGI for it back in the 80s!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:49 pm

but they might be taking data from the probes pictures to create a virtual landscape to walk about

ie. lots of grey blobs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:21 pm

Ah, you mean like the 'flyaround' of Venus made from the radar imaging of the planet?

But there, they had 3d information to begin with, unlike here, where Huygens has only given a panoramic view from a single point, not being a rover-type probe.

It would seem that radar imaging of Titan at this time was too cost-ineffective, as they weren't sure whther or not it was a rocky or icy world. Ice being transparent to radar, so any attempt at imaging might have resulted in something quite unTitanlike.

Dylan · Post by **Dylan** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:22 pm

Tee hee.

You are all such lovable dorks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:46 pm

Except sadie.

FAO Mr Dylan Nagel: dork.

Ultimate Weapon · Post by **Ultimate Weapon** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:02 am

Life could be life on Titan, Just as there is giant sea worms that feed off of the ocean floor sea vents.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:38 am

Ultimate Weapon wrote:Life could be life on Titan, Just as there is giant sea worms that feed off of the ocean floor sea vents.

But the environments are totally different. If, in the very unlikely event, there is life on Titan, or rather, the conditions from which life could have emerged, had it been a few million miles closer to the Sun, then it would in no way shape or form bear any resemblance to life on the ocean floor.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:48 am

what about bacteria of some kind?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:39 pm

Possible, but unlikely, given the amount of time available.

Titan may look like a primordial Earth, but without the internal energy processes, it's got no way of kick-starting life.

To make an analogy from Hawking*, it's like playing round-the-clock darts - the Earth is currently on a 15, while Titan is still stuck on a 3.

*He used throwing doubles with a pair of dice, but I'd say that was too limited.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:41 am

Ultimate Weapon wrote:Life could be life on Titan, Just as there is giant sea worms that feed off of the ocean floor sea vents.

Hmm?? Is that a Seaquest reference that I'm seeing? Loved that series.

Señior's Covenant · Post by **Señior's Covenant** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:33 pm

It was okay. Though I believe he was referring to the actual semi-recent discovery of a new species of marine worms that live at hydrothermal vents found deep in the ocean.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:45 pm

I wouldn't classify that as a very recent discovery myself, wasn't it like, what? 5-7 years ago? On the other hand I've got no idea how you classify that.