Charon has Geysers too |
Charon has Geysers too |
Jul 18 2007, 04:08 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 531 Joined: 24-August 05 Member No.: 471 |
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The only mechanism that explained the data was cryovolcanism, the eruption of liquids and gases in an ultra-cold environment. This action could be occurring on timescales as short as a few hours or days, and at levels that would recoat Charon to a depth of one millimeter every 100,000 years. ---------- - Charon: An Ice Machine in the Ultimate Deep Freeze -------------------- - blue_scape / Nico -
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Jul 19 2007, 03:18 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2785 Joined: 10-November 06 From: Pasadena, CA Member No.: 1345 |
A current projected resurfacing rate of 1 mm/1E5 years would only give about an inch and a half of powder over the age of the solar system.
Even if the resurfacing rates were much, much higher in the past, the powder may only obscure some of the smaller really old features. It should look quite pretty. I imagine craters and peaks all lightly coated and sparkly with a thin ice glazing. [Littlebit, I'd strongly suggest using rental skis, instead of your own. ] -Mike -------------------- Some higher resolution images available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31678681@N07/
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