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 Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:22 pm
The Cassini probe has discovered a vast region on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, that is covered in dunes similar to those found in deserts on our own planet. Occurring near Titan's equator, the linear dunes are up to 500 feet tall in regions up to 930 miles long. Scientists believe they are made out of "sand" composed of pulverized water ice. Saturn's gravity pulls on Titan's dense atmosphere creating a tide of wind, much like the tides caused by the moon in Earth's oceans. The alternating tide of east-west winds blows the pulverized ice particles into rippling dunes across the surface of Titan's mid-latitudes.  Radar image taken on 10-28-2005 from an altitude of approx. 800 miles
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:08 am
What ever happened to the Cassini probe? Did it land on Titan? What happened there?
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:32 pm
Neotenke What ever happened to the Cassini probe? Did it land on Titan? What happened there? Huygens was the probe that landed on Titan. It hitched a ride on Cassini, and then it descended to Titan's surface January 14, 2005. It took pictures on the way down and after it landed. It died out about an hour and a half after landing. Cassini is still in orbit around Saturn. It's scheduled to do another flyby of Titan on July 2. Here's the official website-- http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfmThere are pictures, animations, and all sorts of cool information. The current issue (July 2006) of Astronomy Magazine also has a story about the Cassini mission.
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:13 am
Cool thanks - the space programme seems to have gone downhill. There are so many things that need doing but just aren't getting done because there is no funding. I mean, there's all the concentration on Mars and New Horizons has FINALLY been launched to Pluto (waiting for 2015) but it's theorised that there is a layer of ice under the crust of 1 Ceres in the asteroid belt. Surely exploring planets with or objects with the potential to harbour life is more important than other things that are receiving all this funding - can't think of any examples off the top of my head but I'm sure there's some stupid thing it's being spent on.
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Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:33 pm
Hmm... well, NASA has spent a lot of it's funding on airplanes to carry around it's employees.
I couldn't believe it when I heard it, they were spending money that could be used on some project on some fleet of airplanes to ensure employees travel comfortably.
Sure, I suppose the engineers and the scientists deserve it, but considering how many projects have been cut you think they could willingly give up their airplane service.
Also, it just feels like we're spending too much on Mars, especially with the infamous "Martian Vampire" which has killed a few spacecraft, although the newer ones have had an easier time.
Wow, I wish we could send a rover down there on Titan, and many other moons for that matter, but that won't happen for some time.
I understand that Mars is a neat place, but apparently they've never heard the phrase "Never store all your eggs in one basket".
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:10 pm
Secret Penguin Man Hmm... well, NASA has spent a lot of it's funding on airplanes to carry around it's employees. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, they were spending money that could be used on some project on some fleet of airplanes to ensure employees travel comfortably. Sure, I suppose the engineers and the scientists deserve it, but considering how many projects have been cut you think they could willingly give up their airplane service. Also, it just feels like we're spending too much on Mars, especially with the infamous "Martian Vampire" which has killed a few spacecraft, although the newer ones have had an easier time. Wow, I wish we could send a rover down there on Titan, and many other moons for that matter, but that won't happen for some time. I understand that Mars is a neat place, but apparently they've never heard the phrase "Never store all your eggs in one basket". Well said I must say.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 12:24 pm
So it looks like Titan not only has methane-ethane lakes, but also dunes!
Some scientists say that Titan is similar to the Earth in many ways...
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