http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/science/space/27titan.html?ref=waterAccording to this article scientist have found that the level of Ontario Lacus largest lake on the Southern hemisphere of the Moon, Titan, orbiting the planet, Saturn, has lowered by 5 meters in the last 4 years, indicating a type of water cycle. Also the shores have receded by as much as 3-4 Kilometers. . The moon has been considered by many as a small earth, that potentially could maintain life, and more so now, that there is some evidence about a water-like cycle. The Cassini Spacecraft, shows that other lakes, have similarly receded. Of course the "water" is liquid methane, and is freeeezing, so extremophiles are about the only things that could possibley survive there.
Being about 3/5ths smaller than earth, it is the only celestial body in the solar system to harbor liquid on its surface, and so it is thought to be in the process of starting life, as was with earth. It was just summer in the southern hemisphere and it is thought that the water evaporated and it is proof of weather and maybe a "water" cycle but with methane. The Cassini-Huygens mission proved helpful for identifying lakes, and the Cassini Ship has been circling Saturn and photographing the moons for a long time now. The measurements of loss of height were found when the are that got smaller and the slope were found. Scientist claim that due to the high temperatures, the cycles last thousands of years, during the which some hemispheres become colder than others.
I find this article extremely interesting, partly because i have always had a passion for space, and astronomy. It has always captivated me that it is so immense, and so unknown, and we are so helpless that a supernova in a range of thousands of light years could completely fry our planet. I find this article extremely interesting and I learned a lot, starting from the fact, that the Huygens Probe landed on Titan in 2005 and took a few pictures of the surface. I find this subject exceptionally fascinating, and the fact that there could be life there is amazing.
