Mysteries of Titan - Jeff Moore (SETI Talks)

SETI Talks Archive: http://seti.org/talks

All landforms on Titan that are unambiguously identifiable can be explained by exogenic processes (aeolian, fluvial, impact cratering, and mass wasting). Previous suggestions of endogenically produced cryovolcanic constructs and flows have, without exception, lacked conclusive diagnostic evidence. Titan might be most akin to Callisto with weather. Dr. Moore will show the results of Landform Evolution Modeling for the purposes of testing this, and other, hypotheses.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• nasa ames

[HughFromAlice]

Agree with Pamcat99. Very well argued. And I'm glad that Jeff said that all this is 'a viable working hypothesis'! However, I found the comparison between the 'degraded crater terrains' of Mars & 'such terrains' in Titan a huge stretch on the word degraded! As a nonscientist/expert would have liked some solid altimetry data presented to back up critical claims of relative hi relief of Minerva crater etc.

The caveats on interpreting radar data were v sensible!!.……Hᴜɢʜ….TU…..ツ

[pamcat99]

I was at this presentation and loved it-- Jeff Moore is incredibly knowledgable, approachable and generous with the public--I loved the fact that although he was addressing lay people, we are sophisticated lay people and he addressed us as such-- Also, he wrote a paper a decade ago positing what's turned out to be a highly controversial theory about Titan that's stirred up the scientific community-- it's turning out that he's probably right.

[la2bkk]

While lectures on Titan are always appreciated, I found this presentation overly technical and slow moving. Far more interesting lectures on this fascinating moon are available.

[mzedong001]

Could it be possible to design a space craft which can carry 4 sattellites , one of which could carry a submarine which can be sent to explore a lake somewhere on Titan?

How big would it have to be? How much would it cost? How many space agencies could be involved in the project? What would the spacecraft look like?

Could Iceland jump - start a joint NASA - ESA mission featuring four sattellites , one of which can carry a submarine?

[Aiden057]

Thank you Jeff Moore and SETI for a most interesting talk.