Saturn moon Titan 'dry as a bone'

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4745009.stm

Saturn moon Titan 'dry as a bone'

Hopes of finding hydrocarbon oceans on Saturn's smoggy moon, Titan, appear to be dashed, scientists report in Nature.

The moon's atmosphere is thick with methane and ethane, prompting speculation that lakes or oceans of these chemicals may sit on the surface.

The Huygens that landed on Titan sent back images suggesting possible shorelines and rivers. But an extensive search for tell-tale infrared reflections has now revealed no sign of lakes or seas on Titan....

MORE

[politick]

1. Well, then

where are all the aliens coming from?!?!

[Beaver Tail]

2. Didn't you see 2010?

They are coming from Europa

[BlueEyedSon]

3. (attempt no landings there....)

[Ian David]

4. However...

<snip>

However, the latest observations were focused entirely on Titan's southern hemisphere. It is just possible the northern region may still contain pools of liquid organic material.

"I would not say that the surface is devoid of liquid methane," lead researcher Dr West said.

<snip>

Early radar studies showed that Titan was covered with pools of methane - a flammable gas on Earth but liquid on Titan because of the intense atmospheric pressure and cold.

<snip>

"At one time, maybe a liquid water and ammonia mix flowed onto the surface and froze," Dr West told the New Scientist. "That could be smooth on the scale of radar but rough on the scale we see."

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4745009.stm

So maybe we may still find swashbuckling buccaneers sailing the methane seas of Titan...

[beam me up scottie]

5. You almost used

the "P" word!!!
:yoiks: