Skip to content

Space

Giant ice flows bolster case for volcanoes on Titan

25 March 2009

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine. — Investigators suspect the domed feature detailed above is an ice volcano, or cryovolcano, seen in infrared light through the hazy atmosphere on Saturn’s moon Titan
(Image: USGS/JPL/NASA)

This pair of images covers part of Hotei Arcus, an infrared-bright and possibly time-variable feature that has been hypothesized to be cryovolcanic, based on the presence of flow-like features in the radar images. The data shows that these flows are 100 to 200 metres (300 to 600 feet) thick — This pair of images covers part of Hotei Arcus, an infrared-bright and possibly time-variable feature that has been hypothesized to be cryovolcanic, based on the presence of flow-like features in the radar images. The data shows that these flows are 100 to 200 metres (300 to 600 feet) thick
(Image: VIMS Team/U. Arizona/ESA/NASA)

SLUSHY water from a hidden ocean may be pooling onto the icy surface of Saturn’s moon Titan.

Titan’s exterior, where…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

Unlock this article

or

Existing subscribers

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

Space

Could we put out the sun with a sun-sized orb of water?

News

JWST image of Saturn

Space

Stunning JWST image sees Saturn show off its glowing rings

News

Space

Our solar system could be hiding an extra planet the size of Uranus

News

Orion Nebula in Infrared NASA ID: PIA25434 This new image of the Orion Nebula produced using previously released data from three telescopes shows two enormous caverns carved out by unseen giant stars that can release up to a million times more light than our Sun. All that radiation breaks apart dust grains there, helping to create the pair of cavities. Much of the remaining dust is swept away when the stars produce wind or when they die explosive deaths as supernovae. This infrared image shows dust but no stars. Blue light indicates warm dust heated by unseen massive stars. Observed in infrared light ? a range of wavelengths outside what human eyes can detect ? the views were provided by NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which now operates under the moniker NEOWISE. Spitzer and WISE were both managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, ...more 508 Description:This infrared image of the Orion Nebula features plenty of dust but no stars. In these infrared wavelengths, it's possible to see hot spots where new stars are forming, while unseen bright, massive stars have carved out caverns of empty space. Date Created:2022-11-22 Center:JPL Keywords: Herschel Space Observatory , Spitzer Space Telescope , Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) , Orion Nebula Secondary Creator Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech Visit JPL Website

Comment

Under Alien Skies review: A terrific guide to our spectacular universe

Culture