An Island On Saturn's Moon Reappears In Satellite Images
- 10 years ago
One of Saturn’s moons named Titan has liquid lakes on its surface. An island that appeared in one of the lakes called Ligeia Mare, near the north pole of the moon, disappeared in subsequent images taken by the NASA Cassini mission before appearing in the lake again.
Scientists have long known that one of Saturn’s moons named Titan has liquid hydrocarbon lakes on its surface.
For years they have been monitoring a mysterious feature in one of the lakes called Ligeia Mare, near Titan’s north pole. Recent images taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft seem to show it changing in appearance and size.
The “Magic Island” as the feature has been dubbed, has researchers trying to determine exactly what it is and what is happening on Titan to make its appearance change.
While Titan is so cold that methane and ethane exist in liquid form, those liquids experience a similar atmospheric cycle to Earth by evaporating, condensing and even falling as rain, accumulating in lakes and rivers.
The island appeared in images captured on July 10th 2013, and when the Cassini spacecraft flew by sixteen days later, the landscape feature had vanished. However, it reappeared in a subsequent image take on August 21st, 2014, and seems to be larger yet dimmer.
Despite its nickname, scientists do not believe it is an island, but have several theories as to what could be causing it.
For example, it could be wave activity reflecting on the lake, rising bubbles of gas, or even floating solids, and may all be affected by increased solar energy in the northern region as summer slowly approaches Titan in its 30 year cycle of seasons.
Scientists have long known that one of Saturn’s moons named Titan has liquid hydrocarbon lakes on its surface.
For years they have been monitoring a mysterious feature in one of the lakes called Ligeia Mare, near Titan’s north pole. Recent images taken by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft seem to show it changing in appearance and size.
The “Magic Island” as the feature has been dubbed, has researchers trying to determine exactly what it is and what is happening on Titan to make its appearance change.
While Titan is so cold that methane and ethane exist in liquid form, those liquids experience a similar atmospheric cycle to Earth by evaporating, condensing and even falling as rain, accumulating in lakes and rivers.
The island appeared in images captured on July 10th 2013, and when the Cassini spacecraft flew by sixteen days later, the landscape feature had vanished. However, it reappeared in a subsequent image take on August 21st, 2014, and seems to be larger yet dimmer.
Despite its nickname, scientists do not believe it is an island, but have several theories as to what could be causing it.
For example, it could be wave activity reflecting on the lake, rising bubbles of gas, or even floating solids, and may all be affected by increased solar energy in the northern region as summer slowly approaches Titan in its 30 year cycle of seasons.