Astronomers measure sea depth on Saturn's moon
Representatives from Cornell University have calculated the depth of the sea on Titan – the largest satellite of the planet Saturn. To do this, they analyzed data from the Cassini probe, according to the Journal of Geophysical Research .
The device measured several zones using a radar altimeter. Thus, the depth of Sinus Bay in the northern part of the sea is 85 meters.
Scientists have noted that the Kraken Sea is not like terrestrial bodies of water. It is filled with liquid, but that consists of methane (70%), liquid nitrogen (16%) and ethane (14%).
It was not possible to reach the bottom in the central part of the sea. Calculations have shown that the depth in this place reaches 300 meters.
The study authors noted that the Kraken Sea contains about 80% of the entire liquid mass on Titan. And its area exceeds the area of all the Earth's Great Lakes combined.
Scientists noted that in the future, a robotic underwater vehicle is planned to be launched into this sea. Titanium is fraught with many more mysteries, and the main one is where liquid methane came from. Sunlight on Titan (about 100 times less intense than on Earth) constantly converts methane in the atmosphere to ethane. Within 10 million years, all reserves of this gas on the satellite will run out.
It was previously reported that organics and water ice were found on Titan. According to scientists, Titan may be a suitable place for the origin of life.
