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Storm Clouds Found on Saturn's Moon

Clara Moskowitz
,
Space.com
posted: 16 HOURS 32 MINUTES AGO
comments: 1333
filed under: Science News
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Space.com
(Aug. 15) - A tropical storm was not what astronomers expected to see when they pointed their telescopes toward the equator of Saturn's moon Titan last summer.
But that's exactly what they found on this beguiling moon, home to a weather system both eerily familiar and perplexingly strange. The discovery was announced Wednesday.
In many ways Titan's climate resembles that of Earth, but instead of a water cycle, Titan has a methane cycle. Clouds, rain and lakes all exist on Titan, but they are all made of methane. In the moon's frigid climate, any water is frozen into rock-hard ice.
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AFP/Getty Images

The climate on Saturn's moon, Titan, resembles the Earth, but instead of a water cycle it rains methane. Here, Ontario Lacus, a methane lake near Titan's South Pole, is shown.

Clouds of vaporized methane are not uncommon on Titan, though they have never before been observed in Titan's tropics. But in April 2008, astronomers using the Gemini North telescope and NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii spotted a severe storm covering almost 2 million square miles (3 million square km) over the equator.
"The models predicted that the equatorial region should be very dry and should not support cloud formation," said astronomer Henry Roe of Lowell Observatory in Arizona. "But this episode created clouds over both the equator and the south pole. We don't know what set off that sequence, but something gave a pretty good kick to the atmosphere."
Scientists suspect the storm's trigger may have been some kind of geologic activity on the moon's surface, such as a geyser or new mountain range forming. Atmospheric effects may also have set off the storm.
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Whatever the cause, once the clouds were established they seem to have spread throughout Titan's atmosphere in waves.
The situation is a new wrinkle in the study of this complex moon.
"It's an amazing place because it is deeply familiar to us, being form Earth, in terms of the processes - clouds forming, rainfall, carved out channels on the surface, huge fields of what look like sand dunes," Roe told SPACE.com. "But the materials that are involved are quite alien."
Scientists hope to learn more as Saturn's 30-year-long orbit plays out a full rotation of seasons on the moon. NASA's Cassini spacecraft is currently in orbit around Saturn, but it only flies by Titan once every six weeks or so. In the meantime, ground-based telescopes can keep a near-steady eye on the moon.
"We really need to keep observing Titan in detail for many more years in order to get a true understanding of how its seasons change," Roe said.
The researchers, led by Emily Schaller of the Institute for Astronomy in Hawaii (now at the University of Arizona), detail the new finding in the August 13 issue of the journal Nature.
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Amazing Space Images
This image taken by NASA with an infrared telescope in Hawaii shows a large impact on Jupiter's south polar region early Monday. Astronomers say Jupiter was apparently struck by an object, possibly a comet. It happened on the 15th anniversary of another comet strike.
JPL / NASA / AP
JPL / NASA / AP
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2009-08-15 20:59:25
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Ralphgmiami

05:05 PMAug 16 2009

Funny how all these scientists are baffled or amazed that they find something new that they didn't know about. The truth is that the big bang theory has holes in it. Specifically, black holes shoot down and contradict the big bang theory. The big band theory is that all the elements came out of nothing, got big, blew up and expanded. However, black holes condense the universe. Stars that go into it have such a heavy density that if you picked up a rock the size of a golf ball, it would be condensed with density weighing a ton. Jehovah, the God of the bible and the creator of the universe(Psalams 83:18) created the universe along with Jesus Christ(Proverbs 8:22-36). God created all the elements and even the science these scientists are baffled by. Another amazing thing is that Camel Rock near Santa Fe, New Mexico, is made out of lava but windblown as it looks exactly like a camel. God is the greatest artist in all the universe.

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whichdoctorpink

04:33 PMAug 16 2009

methane environment ain't so bad,...I just ate a 12 oz jar of jalepeno olives,...I have already two thirds of a 36 pack in the hanger,....this will not be televised nor will it be commented on by intelligent human beings,.....it is simply light green gas,....I think it smells nice but the last exwife didn't think so,.....what a bitch she was,....can't please everybody! right?

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whichdoctorpink

03:28 PMAug 16 2009

life has an interesting way of getting your attention sometimes,...my exwife of 23 years just emailed me out of the blue,....she said she still thinks of me when she has sex,....I guess the replacement dork isn't very good either,....poor woman!!!

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Job60

03:22 PMAug 16 2009

whichdoctorpink Oh well I know an appolagt is insufficent so I orderd you one of those.$15 Michael Jackson t-shirts,

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(2)

whichdoctorpink

03:20 PMAug 16 2009

I have never been properly e-fluxed,...but some O them nekedcosmonauts.com looked pretty good I will tell you!!!

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(3)

Job60

03:16 PMAug 16 2009

This one's a biggen, Stretching from Springfield MO, To Milwaukee WS....At least it's cooling off a little.....Woah that last boom set off every car alarm in the neighborhood....Wow sounds like Beirut on a Saturday night.....LOL

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whichdoctorpink

03:14 PMAug 16 2009

I am not a whiner but I was just at the pearly gates begging to get in and job60 said.......... If you release a ball of infinitely dense plasma in to a vacuum chamber, Surround it with a electro magnetic flux of equal densety. You end up with space and matter, So was Time present already? Or did it just reverse course?..."@@@@ to which I exclaimed WTF did you just say hebrew???....St Peter took it the wrong way and now I can't even file my taxes without a suspicious look???(please be more carefull with your words job60).....and I was this close to heaven <-> more or less,...sorta

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Orbitxal1

03:10 PMAug 16 2009

I have some thoughts on e-flux but its not talked about openly as many countries appear to have secret programs studying this as a stealth technology.

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szjtmmrh

03:04 PMAug 16 2009

$15 Michael Jackson t-shirts,Ed Hardy t-shirts,Coogi,Christian Audigier,Affliction,Lacoste,Polo t-shirts.$30 Nike Shoes,Air Jordan AF1,DUNK, Nike shox shoes, prada shoes, timberland shoes! $25 coach,fendi,gucci,juicy,d&g purses,handbags.top quality!lowest prices!speedy delivery! free shipping! Please visit---------------netsowntown.com for more details.

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Sixeyess4dinner

03:01 PMAug 16 2009

Black2Deep 02:46 PMAug 16 2009 SO anyone have any thoughts on electro magnetic flux?@@@@@@ The idea that you can levitate a frog with a strong enough magnetic field is fascinating. I am currently conducting research on incorporating this phenomenon into a treatment option for erectile dysfunction.....and am seeking volunteers.......

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A tropical storm was not what astronomers expected to see when they pointed their telescopes toward the equator of Saturn\'s moon Titan last summer. But that\'s exactly what they found on this beguiling moon, home to a weather system both eerily familiar and perplexingly strange. The discovery was announced Wednesday.\nIn many ways Titan\'s climate resembles that of Earth, but instead of a water cycle, Titan has a methane cycle. Clouds, rain and lakes all exist on Titan, but they are all made of methane. In the moon\'s frigid climate, any water is frozen into rock-hard ice.\n