<甲烷雨> 泰坦(土衛六)的可能

Methane Rain Possible on Titan

圖示版權與提供: Mark Garlick (Space-art.co.uk)

Explanation:

Might it rain cold methane on Saturn's Titan? Recent analyses of measurements taken by the Huygen's probe that landed on Titan in 2005 January indicate that the atmosphere is actually saturated with methane at a height of about 8 kilometers.

Combined with observations of a damp surface and lakes near the poles, some astrobiologists conclude that at least a methane drizzle is common on parts of Titan.

Other astrobiologists reported computer models of the clouded moon that indicate that violent methane storms might even occur, complete with flash floods carving channels in the landscape. The later scenario is depicted in the above drawing of Titan.

Lighting, as also depicted above, might well exist on Titan but has not been proven. The findings increase speculation that a wet Titanian surface might be hospitable to unusual forms of life.

說明:

泰坦衛星是否會下著冰冷的甲烷雨呢？最近分析2005年1月降落在泰坦的惠更斯探測器之量測數據，顯示大約8公里高處之大氣含有飽和的甲烷。

再加上所觀測到的溼潤表面和極區湖泊，可以歸論泰坦表面的某些區域至少會下甲烷細雨。部份天文生物學家針對這顆雲霧衛星所進行的電腦模擬指出，在泰坦上甚至連激烈的風暴都可能會發生，伴隨著沖刷出表面河道的暴雨。

上面這幅圖像呈現了剛提到的這種泰坦場景，其中所描繪的閃電可能也存在，不過尚未被證實。這些發現，使泰坦表面可能有某些不尋常的生命形式之想法更加風行。

資料來源：Scientific American
　　　　　Department of Physics, NCKU