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This is Titan, Saturn's largest Moon captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. (programming.dev)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/interestingasfuck

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[–] [email protected] 50 points 7 months ago (5 children)

A clearer picture, for those interested:

http://annesastronomynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Titan.jpg

Source

From the source:

Titan is the only object other than Earth where liquid hydrocarbon lakes and seas have actually been found (by Cassini) in its polar regions – in abundance in the north polar region and at least one of approximately 20,000 km2, called Ontario Lacus, on its south pole. Just recently, there have also been long-standing methane lakes, or puddles, in Titan’s “tropics” discovered.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Titan is the only object other than Earth where liquid hydrocarbon lakes and seas

The US would like to know your location

[–] satanmat 19 points 7 months ago (2 children)

For some reason, there are terrorists on Titan. The USA is preparing the Space Marines

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

A division of space force.

[–] abigscaryhobo 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Led by Johnny Space

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Chief Medic: Dr. Spaceman

Pronounced Spa-sche-min

*No 30 Rock fans here, I see.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

This makes me wonder what would happen if someone ignited large explosives by some of these hydrocarbon pools… since there’s plenty of water ice, there’s oxygen tied up to react with…

[–] OhmsLawn 11 points 7 months ago

It looks far less habitable up close lol.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Why the blur if the telescope is so powerful?

[–] OhmsLawn 17 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Titan is small, and distant, when compared to the photo in the thread.

The photo in this thread is by Cassini, which was at least a thousand of times closer. Titan is 1.2 million KM from Saturn, which Cassini was orbiting, while Earth, which JWST "orbits" is at least 1.2 billion KM from Saturn.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Thanks for the clarification!

[–] L3mmyW1nks 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

With its liquids (both surface and subsurface) and robust nitrogen atmosphere, Titan's methane cycle bears a striking similarity to Earth's water cycle, albeit at the much lower temperature of about 94 K (−179 °C; −290 °F).

That's way too cold in my opinion!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

The future ski holiday destination of the rich

[–] Ltcpanic 3 points 7 months ago

Humans are pretty good at warming things up