Across The Titan Seas
From distant shores I sail dark seas,
No seas I've sailed before,
'Neath mirthless skies of misty rose,
While a dull sun shines afar.
Unyielding coldness fills the voids,
Where time and distance freeze,
And angels fear to wander thus,
These ghastly, soulless seas.
Fierce winds rake the frozen dunes,
A blighted landscape lies,
And narry a friendsome shape appears,
No respite for the eyes.
Yet a striped giant rises now,
Over the morbid sea,
With dazzling rings of gossomer,
Like jewels, if e'er they be.
And pulsing 'neath the surface of
This alien world astrife,
Lies warmth, and flowing water,
And the very spark of life.
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We should investigate colonizing Titan - not Mars. Titan has an atmosphere and protection from deadly cosmic radiation - Mars does not. And though not openly discussed, if Mars is colonized, the people will have to live underground - not on the surface, unlike what the movies show. Mars is a harsh and dead world - Titan is more livable and dynamic. Let’s go to Titan!
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How I wish I could live long enough to learn about the results of those future missions !
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Is there Oxygen on Titan, or only Hydrogen, Carbon and Nitrogen?
Do you need all 4 to get life?
1
Not to weird at all. In fact, humans can live the longest unaided on Titan than any other place in our solar system, besides Earth of course. Titan, with a beach front, would be infinitely better for the next Earthling home over Mars without. Protected by Saturn's immense magnetosphere and with an ocean to sail and the most majestic planet to guide her by, Titan should be getting most of our exploration attention - certainly not Mars.
3
Titan isn't the only moon that harbors liquid on its surface, i believe. Io supposedly has active volcanoes, which would result in lava on the surface.
2
@Martin Parker that “ lava” on Titan goes straight into space.
@Martin Parker
Liquid molten sulphur! Not totally hospitable, but have some really impressive pictures in the NASA archives.
Also, Europa and Enceladus have sub-surface oceans.
2
Beautiful graphic. Titan is one of the most fascinating objects in the solar system
4
Fascinating planet! Thank you for the article.
2
@Barbara Titan is a moon of Saturn. Yes, it is fascinating even more than Mars.
1
How about a science article that will explain the source of hydrocarbons on titan without carbon based life whereas on earth most or all hydrocarbons originated from living organisms?
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@Tibby Elgato
Thank you- I was just thinking the same question!
@Tibby Elgato
"Virtually all hydrocarbons originate from organisms"...Not accepted by all.
1
In next 200 years, we would have corporations rushing for Titan and others for various materials. And their stock price would be zooming.
5
Thanks for the science articles, some of us really appreciate them.
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