Triton and its catastrophic end

[aerogi]

I found following interesting article about Triton:<br /><br />http://www.eso.org/outreach/eduoff/edu-prog/catchastar/CAS2002/cas-projects/sweden_triton_1/<br /><br />Does anyone have some more information? Any computermodels as when this will happen? I guess it will be millions of years, but still, quite intriguing. There might have been many more other moons that have ended that way, and that Triton is the last 'survivor' so far of these moons...

 

[thalion]

Most estimates I've seen center around 100 million years:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triton_%28moon%29<br /><br />When it happens, the resulting ring system will be truly spectacular--it will be much brighter and more massive than Saturn's rings.

 

[vogon13]

I think we can safely posit that as Triton approaches Neptune, tidal dissipation rate will increase. Thus the closer it gets, the faster it gets closer. Also will encounter prograde orbiting satellites on its' way down so will be some interesting physics prior to break up of Triton.<br /><br />Just out of curiosity, are there any Triton images with a superimposed latitude and longitude grid?<br /><br />(can any of you imagine why I would ask such a thing?)<img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[claywoman]

Just out of curiousity, if Triton doesn't break up, how much damage will it do to Neptune if it does crash down on it?

 

[vogon13]

Suspect the increasing tidal effects as Triton descends will be suficient to Io-ize (just thought of that term) surface, that is, increasing levels of heat internal to Triton will start melting it from inside out. Anticipate Triton to be liquid (or barely crusted over) as it nears 'the final plunge' (tympani drums for effect). Triton will not be mechanically very rigid at this point so we can be pretty sure an intact Triton isn't going to do a belly flop into Neptune cloud deck. If it did manage to come down intact, think Shoemaker Levi on bigger scale, cloud deck discoloration over vast area, probable effects visible for longer time than Jupiter, but keep in mind, Triton into Neptune still pretty much bug on the windshield. Earth many times more massive than Triton, Neptune 15~20 times mass of earth. Still be cool to watch.<br /><br />Retrograde orbit of Triton will generate retrograde orbiting ring system around Neptune. Also don't know if Triton orbit will 'relax' into Neptune equatorial plane as it approaches, if it doesn't, then resulting ring system will be inclined to cloud bands. Probably pretty weird looking cuz we're accustomed to seeing Saturn's cloud bands parallel to ring plane.<br /><br />Would also expect Triton volcanic and/or geyser phenomena to increase in strength as heating rate increases, maybe to point of blowing significant quantities of material away from Triton. A really really big volcanic comet, in a retrograde orbit around a gas giant planet. Don't think we've seen this on Star Trek yet. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[silylene old]

Regardless of whether triton breaks up before it hits, or not (and I do think it will break up), there will be a tremendous amount of energy deposited into the atmosphere and to the "surface" of Neptune. It will be Shoemaker Levi x many orders of magnitude. Neptune will become quite warm and toasty!<br /><br />It certainly will be interesting ! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

<font color="yellow"> Another unique feature of Triton's orbit, arising from tidal effects on such a large moon so close to its primary, is that it is, for all practical purposes, a perfect circle, with an eccentricity of 0 to sixteen decimal places. </font> <br /><br />Just read your wikipedia article and this other amazing Triton fact! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Since neptune is gas giant itself ,there may not be much effect.At least dianousars wont die ,if they are hanging around in neptune.