Titan Radar images from the Cassini Spacecraft.

[brellis]

Looks like Andrew found a moon to keep him company until we can get back to Io! <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks for the layout. These radar images help so much to make the surface of Titan more understandable.<br /><br />"ice island in methane lake" should be one of many great inspirations for artistic interpretations of Titan-like worlds. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

Fantastic pics Andrew.<br />Congrats!<br /><br />Joel

 

[3488]

Hi brellis, I just hope that we do return to Io someday, permitting radiation hardened <br />technology & finances!!!! <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br />However, I love Titan too, not to mention Iapetus, Enceladus, the five main moons of Uranus, <br />Triton, the Moon, etc so there are plenty of moons to keep me company <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />If you are not careful, perhaps I could bore SDC members with an Io thread, loads of <br />Voyager, Galileo & New Horizons images. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />(SDC members gnashing & wailling "anything but that") <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /><br /><br />Mu ha ha ha ha ha, Mwa ha ha ha ha ha. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Titan. <br /><br />Guabonito, about 90 kilometers / 56 miles across. <br /><br />Origin & type uncertain.<br /><br />Could be a cryovolcanic or impact crater, but looks heavily eroded.<br /><br />Note that hydrocarbon rich ice dunes are around & inside Guabonito.<br /><br />Guabonito is clearly an old feature.<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks Joel,<br /><br />I just love doing this. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />These images I have processed myself, so they are not just pulled off a site & posted here.<br /><br />Titan with the Radar is becoming a real world in its own right, very different from the <br />huge fuzzy orange ball as shown by Pioneer 11 & the Voyagers (not their fault, just<br />something that we did not expect).<br /><br />Also I get to learn more myself, whilst doing these.<br /><br />Titan.<br /><br />Dry channels running into what appears to be a 'dry' lake bed????<br /><br />This is close to the equator. Did methane lakes once extend to the equator?<br /><br />Was Titan much colder in the past?<br /><br />NASA / JPL.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan.<br /><br />'Kissing Lakes' about 80 degrees north in the polar Winter darkness.<br /><br />This covers an area about 60 kilometers / 37 miles west to east by 40 kilometers / 25 miles<br />north to south.<br /><br />NASA / JPL.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />ESA Huygens landing site seen by the SAR.<br /><br />Yellow outline marks area as viewed by the descending ESA Huygens & the pink<br />cross marks touchdown location by Huygens.<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

Impressive difference between the many features pictured by Huygens and the apparence of boredom on SAR views. We should logically infer that many of the sad, unstructured plains on other views may in fact contain a huge variety of terrains.<br /><br />More to come for the next decades.

 

[3488]

Hi Joel.<br /><br />You raise a very good point.<br /><br />The Huygens landing site was imaged by the SAR at the very maximum distance <br />possible.<br /><br />Cassini had radar imaged an area to the west & @ a much closer distance, therefore<br />at hugely improved resolution.<br /><br />A small swathe containing the Huygens landing site was SARed, mostly for scatterometry <br />(roughness of area), but some imagery was doable @ very low resolution.<br /><br />AFAIK, during the extended mission, this area will be reimaged by SAR from just above the<br />top of Titan's atmosphere, so we will see a huge amount of detail.<br /><br />The images I have posted on this thread are all SAR images from close quarters <br />(apart from this one), hence the general good quality.<br /><br />Below is the entire 'swathe' containing the Huygens landing site. As you can see, it is very<br />highly foreshortened.<br /><br />What is clearly visible though are gigantic hydrocarbon rich ice dunes to the north, & perhaps a <br />few channels on the western side (Huygens saw just that, but closer to the landing site).<br /><br />There are a few ice upland areas particularly to the north east, where the ice dunes<br />part.<br /><br />Hope that explains it a bit?????<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan.<br /><br />Enhanced portion of the giant hydrocarbon rich ice dunes, interupted by an ice mound <br />north east of the ESA Huygens landing site.<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[abq_farside]

Re: Central mounds in centre of the Circus Maximus 440 KM diameter impact basin. <br /><br />Interesting - what is that, the Great Wall of Titan? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

Your wider image clearly recalls that you can find structure at any scale.<br /><br />As for the big 1bn-LY "hole" discovered recently, the very latter example of fractal nature. (everybody previously thought we had at last reached uniformity at large scale...)<br /><br />What I meant was that Titan low-scale features are probably very diverse as well. Exciting!

 

[MeteorWayne]

It's a giant fingerprint!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

Yes.<br />Sorry but from this side of the pond, it's difficult to know who shall be called.<br />CSI Las Vegas? NY? or Miami?

 

[MeteorWayne]

The real answer is Rod Serling.<br />There was a Twilight Zone episode that has exactly the same print on a car.<br /><br />BTW, Andrew, I don't always pop up and thank you, but rest assured I examine and appreciate every image you post.<br /><br />WayneMan <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

It could be all three.<br /><br />I do watch those, not bad crime drama at all. <br /><br />I agree MeteorWayne, it does look like a giganic finger print!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />At minus 180 Celsius / 93 Kelvin, a pretty cold one too. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Good night all.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

MW,<br /><br />I am unforgiveable.<br />The culprit is obvious. This cannot be the Saturnian Secretary of the Science Academy (too small!).<br />We need a bigger guy who visited the Saturn system, with larger fingerprints.<br /><br />There was one in 18th century: Micromegas (from Sirius)! I am sure of that because I've read it. And there are many books about it. So it must be true [LOL / Is there an emoticon that says PLEASE DO NOT THINK I AM A CRANK]<br /><br />Voltaire would have appreciated the irony. <br /><br />

 

[brellis]

You reminded me - my shirts need some ironying. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <-my fave emoticon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thats your favourite past time brellis.<br /><br />Or are you down to your last one & just realised????? <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Titan.<br /><br />89 kilometre long methane Lake.<br /><br />Approx 78 degrees north.<br /><br />NASA / JPL.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />80 kilometre long methane Lake. <br /><br />Approx 78 degrees north. <br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />Eastern lower flanks of Ganesa Macula cryovolcano & area to the east.<br /><br />Bright areas, cryovolcanic flows???? <br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

My shirts will readily tell you that I'm not very ironic <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks again for the Titanic Tour de Force <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />Enlargement & enhancement of eastern lower flanks of Ganesa Macula cryovolcano & <br />area to the east. <br /><br />Bright areas, cryovolcanic flows???? <br /><br />There are what looks like channels at the base of the cryovolcano. <br /><br />Are they collapsed cryovolcanic 'lava' tubes??????<br /><br />Or are they runoff for methane rain??????<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Good morning brellis.<br /><br />Cheers, I am enjoying this very much.<br /><br />My wife is now doing shifts & started work @ 6:00 AM CET / 5:00 AM GMT.<br /><br />I could not get back to sleep, so got up, put SDC on, put the early morning news on<br />(what a joy that is!!!! NOT).<br /><br />I will be getting ready for work shortly myself!!!<br /><br />Titan. <br /><br />South eastern lower flanks of Ganesa Macula cryovolcano & area immediately<br />to the south east. <br /><br />Bright areas, cryovolcanic flows???? <br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />South eastern portion of the Ganesa Macula cryovolcano, an area of <br />approx 90 km across.<br /><br />The portion @ the four to five o'clock position, looks as if it has partially collapsed. <br /><br />Indirect evidence of Titanquakes?????<br /><br />Bright areas, cryovolcanic flows???? <br /><br />Perhaps some channels are collapsed cryvolcanic 'lava' tubes????<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Titan. <br /><br />Methane lakes shorefronts.<br /><br />About 73 degress north, in north polar Winter darkness.<br /><br />About 150 km across.<br /><br />NASA / JPL. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>