As Titan, Saturn’s most famous moon, gears up for summer, scientists reported that they believe they’ve seen waves on one of its methane lakes.
As Titan, Saturn’s most famous moon, gears up for summer, scientists reported that they believe they’ve seen waves on one of its methane lakes.
If that is the case, it would mark the first time such rippling activity has ever been observed on a celestial body outside of Earth.
Of course, they’re not exactly ocean-quality ones like we have. In fact, they’re probably only three-quarters of an inch high.
That is, if they’re waves at all. They could just be reflections off of some surface liquid.
How they change in the near future, though, could lead to a whole new understanding of the planet’s waters.
Big weather events are expected to commence any time, and should the wind pick up considerably, tidal waves of up to a meter could result.
Other water activity is speculated as being possible, such as fast-moving currents and even whirlpools.
The approach of summer is said to offer ideal conditions for exploration as the light is better, and the observation technology will be able to pick up more detail.
As Titan is on a 30 year cycle of seasons, the team plans to take full advantage of the opportunity.
