Ganesa Macula, a dark feature on Saturn's moon Titan, might be a cryovolcanic dome.

A cryovolcano is, literally, an icy volcano. Cryovolcanoes form on icy moons, and possibly on other low-temperature astronomical objects (e.g. Kuiper belt objects). Rather than molten rock, these volcanoes erupt volatiles such as water, ammonia or methane. Collectively referred to as cryomagma or ice-volcanic melt, these substances are usually liquids and form plumes, but can also be in vapour form. After eruption cryomagma condenses to a solid form when exposed to the very low surrounding temperature. Some scientists speculate that the cryovolcanoes on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, may harbor extraterrestrial life. Image File history File links Ganesha Macula, a dark spot on Titan File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Ganesha Macula, a dark spot on Titan File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Ganesa Macula imaged by Cassini radar. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... Titan (, from Ancient Greek Τῑτάν) or Saturn VI is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest moon in the solar system,[4] after Jupiters moon Ganymede. ... For other uses, see Volcano (disambiguation). ... Icy moons are believed to be a common class of planetoids that have a surface mostly of ice, possibly with an ocean under the ice, and possibly including a rocky core of silicate or metallic rocks. ... Artists rendering of the Kuiper Belt and hypothetical more distant Oort cloud. ... Look up lava, Aa, pahoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Impact of a drop of water creating circular capillary waves. ... Ammonia is a compound with the formula NH3. ... Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH4. ... A liquid will usually assume the shape of its container A liquid is one of the main states of matter. ... In hydrodynamics, a plume is a column of one fluid moving through another. ... Vapor (US English) or vapour (British English) is the gaseous state of matter. ... Titan (, from Ancient Greek Τῑτάν) or Saturn VI is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest moon in the solar system,[4] after Jupiters moon Ganymede. ... A 1967 Soviet Union 16 kopeks stamp. ...

Theories

The energy required to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes usually comes from tidal friction. It has also been suggested that translucent deposits of frozen materials could create a sub-surface greenhouse effect that would accumulate the required heat. It has been suggested that Tidal friction be merged into this article or section. ... A schematic representation of the exchanges of energy between outer space, the Earths atmosphere, and the Earth surface. ...

It is hypothesised that the Kuiper belt object Quaoar has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be radioactive decay. Artists rendering of the Kuiper Belt and hypothetical more distant Oort cloud. ... Artists impression by G. Bacon of STScI / NASA 50000 Quaoar (pronounced kwah·war, kwah·wor, or kwow·ur, Tongva ) [1] is a Trans-Neptunian object orbiting the Sun in the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt. ... Radioactive decay is the process in which unstable atoms lose energy by emitting radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves. ...

Observations

Cryovolcanoes are found on icy moons. Ice volcanoes were first observed on Neptune's moon Triton during the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989. Icy moons are believed to be a common class of planetoids that have a surface mostly of ice, possibly with an ocean under the ice, and possibly including a rocky core of silicate or metallic rocks. ... Atmospheric characteristics Surface pressure ≫100 MPa Hydrogen - H2 80% ±3. ... Triton (trye-tÉ™n, IPA: , Greek Τρίτων), or Neptune I, is the planet Neptunes largest moon. ... Trajectory Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft, launched on August 20, 1977. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Plumes above the limb of Enceladus feeding Saturn's E Ring. These appear to emanate from the "tiger stripes" near the south pole.

The Cassini-Huygens mission has found a methane-spewing cryovolcano on Titan, and such volcanism is now believed to be a significant source of the methane found in Titan's atmosphere. On November 27, 2005 Cassini photographed geysers on the south pole of Enceladus (See also: Cryovolcanism on Enceladus). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1019x863, 99 KB) Summary Original Caption Released with Image Recent Cassini images of Saturns moon Enceladus backlit by the sun show the fountain-like sources of the fine spray of material that towers over the south polar region. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1019x863, 99 KB) Summary Original Caption Released with Image Recent Cassini images of Saturns moon Enceladus backlit by the sun show the fountain-like sources of the fine spray of material that towers over the south polar region. ... [5] Atmospheric characteristics Pressure trace, significant spatial variability [6], [7] Water vapour 91% [8] Carbon dioxide 3. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... E-Ring was a television military drama, created by David McKenna and executive produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, that premiered on NBC on September 21, 2005. ... Cassini-Huygens is a joint NASA/ESA/ASI unmanned space mission intended to study Saturn and its moons. ... Titan (, from Ancient Greek Τῑτάν) or Saturn VI is the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest moon in the solar system,[4] after Jupiters moon Ganymede. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Strokkur geyser, Iceland A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ... [5] Atmospheric characteristics Pressure trace, significant spatial variability [6], [7] Water vapour 91% [8] Carbon dioxide 3. ... [5] Atmospheric characteristics Pressure trace, significant spatial variability [6], [7] Water vapour 91% [8] Carbon dioxide 3. ...

Indirect evidence of cryovolcanic activity was later observed on several other icy moons of our solar system, including Europa, Ganymede, and Miranda. Icy moons are believed to be a common class of planetoids that have a surface mostly of ice, possibly with an ocean under the ice, and possibly including a rocky core of silicate or metallic rocks. ... Major features of the Solar System (not to scale; from left to right): Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, the asteroid belt, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and its Moon, and Mars. ... Apparent magnitude: 5. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Miranda (IPA: ) is the smallest and innermost of Uranus major moons. ...

External links

• Triton - Triton at the Nine Planets
• South Pole of Triton - Triton at SolarViews.com
• Cryovolcanism - Article at the Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight
• Enceladus' South Polar Stripes Spew "Warm" Water - News article at the Planetary Society