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| I LIKE CATS!! | |||
| ] taken by ] in ]. The dark spots are signs of cryovolcanic plumes.]] | |||
| FROM ANDREW.R | |||
| A '''cryovolcano''' is, literally, an icy ]. Cryovolcanoes form on ]s, | |||
| and possibly on other low temperature astronomical objects (e.g. ] objects). | |||
| Rather than ], these volcanoes erupt volatiles such as ], ] or ]. Collectively referred to as '''cryomagma''' or ice-volcanic melt, these substances are usually ]s and form ]s, but can also be in ] form. After eruption cryomagma condenses to a solid form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature. Some scientists speculate that the cryovolcanoes on ], Saturn's largest moon, may harbor extraterrestrial life. | |||
| ==Theories== | |||
| ], a dark feature on ]'s moon ], might be a cryovolcanic dome.]] | |||
| The energy required to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes usually comes from ]. It has also been suggested that translucent deposits of frozen materials could create a sub-surface ] that would accumulate the required heat. | |||
| It is hypothesised that the ] object ] has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be ]. | |||
| ==Observations== | |||
| Cryovolcanoes are found on ]s. Ice volcanoes were first observed on ]'s moon ] during the ] flyby in ]. Indirect evidence of cryovolcanic activity was later observed on several other ]s of | |||
| our ], including ], ], and ]. | |||
| ===Cassini Mission=== | |||
| ] feeding ] ]. These appear to emanate from the "tiger stripes" near the south pole.]] | |||
| The ] mission has found a methane-spewing cryovolcano on ], and such volcanism is now believed to be a significant source of the methane found in Titan's atmosphere. On ], ] Cassini photographed ]s on the south pole of ] (See also: ]). | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * - Triton at the Nine Planets | |||
| * - Triton at SolarViews.com | |||
| * - Article at the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight | |||
| * - News article at the | |||
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| ] | |||
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Revision as of 04:51, 30 August 2006
I LIKE CATS!! FROM ANDREW.R