Probe Lands On Saturn Moon; Sends Photos

[norml]

Science - AP


Probe Lands on Saturn Moon; Sends Photos

10 minutes ago Science - AP


By MELISSA EDDY, Associated Press Writer

DARMSTADT, Germany - A European space probe Friday sent back the first detailed pictures of the frozen surface of Saturn's moon Titan, showing stunning black and white images of what appeared to be hilly terrain riddled with channels or riverbeds carved by a liquid.


AP Photo


AP Photo
Slideshow: Probe Lands On Saturn's Moon Titan

European Probe Lands on Saturn's Moon
(AP Video)



One picture, taken about 10 miles above the surface as the Huygens spacecraft descended by parachute to a safe landing after a seven-year voyage from Earth, showed snaking, dark lines cut into the light-colored surface.


"Clearly there is liquid matter flowing on the surface of Titan," said scientist Marty Tomasko of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, which made the probe's camera.


He said the liquid appeared to be flowing into a dark area at the right side of the image.


snip


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/europe_saturn This could be a duplicate story on the landing of the craft. Here is a link to some of the images coming in. http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~kholso/jpeg/

[Ian David]

1. At least this is the only story this week that isn't being freeped

[Florida_Geek]

2. pic

OK a little color would be nice

[Megahurtz]

3. Wow!

Sure looks like waterflow!:wow:

[deutsey]

5. Wow, is right!

That's so mind-blowing!

[pmbryant]

7. Too cold for water. Liquid methane more likely, from what I've heard.

Very exciting, of course.

:wow:

Peter

[FreeCajun]

8. Probably methane or ammonia running in rivers...

Beautiful!

[deutsey]

12. I have to post again: This is just so amazing seeing another world

I agree with the poster who said we need to be exploring other worlds, rather than killing everyone on this one.

[lovuian]

4. Very cool!!! New Worlds to explore thats what man should be

doing rather than fighting!!!

[Vertigo]

6. Guess they haven't had time for analysis...

ESA given us any idea what those flows might consist of?

[janx]

9. NPR covered this today.

ESA mentioned the possibility of natural gas...But it just landed. All kinds of analysis ahead!

[GregW]

10. Bravo!

First the unprecedented views of Saturn and its moons by Cassini, then the successful landing of the Huygens spacecraft on Titan. What a magnificent success for the crews involved.

Reminds me of an Arthur C. Clarke story about the first spaceship landing on Titan, only to be pulled through the ice by some mysterious creature ......

Pity the Freepers can't appreciate this ... they hear "rivers of liquid hydrocarbons" and immediately think of a drilling platform.

[MGKrebs]

11. Another pic

[Moderator]

13. duplicate topic, please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1151714&mesg_id=1151714