WORLD USA COMMENTARY LEARNING ... MonitorTalk Search: Environment Internet Also see: Monitorblog A daily Weblog about technology, the Web, wireless, etc. Sci/Tech columnists: Jim Regan Site Reviews Michelle Thaller Science Tidbits Monitorblog A weblog about technology and its impact on our lives. Liblog Our staff librarians' weblog about informative and interesting web sites In this week's Sci/Tech section: L.A. fault line has geologists quaking Is that a daisy growing on your roof? Blair pushes plan to harness greener energy Fast tracking ... All's up for debate, in love and war Conflict in Iraq sparks conflict at home, and family members 'agree to disagree.' Most-viewed stories: (for 04/07/03) Chaos and denial in Baghdad How the US plans to take control of Baghdad On West Bank, fear of 'dangerous precedent' Tension builds over postwar plans ... Sci/Tech posted December 12, 2002 Titan: Exploring the origins of life by Michelle Thaller PASADENA Our view of the solar system has changed drastically in the last few decades. Take moons, for instance. The word moon implies something small and insignificant, at least compared to a planet. But so many of the moons, especially those around the outer planets, are fascinating and complex worlds unto themselves. Many of the most dramatic environments we know of, as well as some of the best chances for life outside the Earth, exist on the moons of our planetary family. One of the most tantalizing moons is Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Even among all the fascinating moons in the solar system, Titan is unique: it is the only moon that possesses a significant atmosphere. Not only does it have an atmosphere, but also layers and layers of orange, hazy clouds (the clouds were so thick that when the Voyager Spacecraft flew by in 1980, the surface was entirely concealed.) Titan's atmosphere is actually quite a bit denser than the Earth's, which is really saying something when you consider the low surface gravity on Titan. Most people don't think about the Earth's gravity holding down and compressing the gases of our atmosphere, but that's exactly what happens. The gravity on Titan's surface in only about one tenth of what you feel on Earth, but the air pressure is actually 60 percent greater than what you feel at sea level here. That's a lot of atmosphere! | |
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