Titan explode?

Toby Owen, an atmospheric scientist, at a news conference from European
Space Agency offices in Paris said today that "There's no source of oxygen
available, which is a good thing or Titan would have exploded a long time
ago."

Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?

Meteorite, comet, ET with a smoking habit I suppose?


"sirhandel" wrote in message
...
Toby Owen, an atmospheric scientist, at a news conference from European
Space Agency offices in Paris said today that "There's no source of oxygen
available, which is a good thing or Titan would have exploded a long time
ago."

Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?

"sirhandel" wrote in message
...
Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?

There are existing craters on Titan, I imagine even fairly small ones
generate a considerable "spark" during their formation. Even smaller
meteorites that don't last long enough to quite reach the ground probably
generate sufficient "spark"
to prove that Titans atmosphere is sufficiently oxygen free as to not
support combustion.

HWB

Lightning, too.

Volcanism, if any.

Sheesh, there must be many possible mechanisms to provide ignition.


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

"Harold Burton" wrote in message
...

"sirhandel" wrote in message
...
Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?

There are existing craters on Titan, I imagine even fairly small ones
generate a considerable "spark" during their formation. Even smaller
meteorites that don't last long enough to quite reach the ground probably
generate sufficient "spark"
to prove that Titans atmosphere is sufficiently oxygen free as to not
support combustion.

Any piezoelectric material exposed to changing strain, any incoming
electrical equipment developing a fault, ...
Grim

"sirhandel" wrote in message
...
Toby Owen, an atmospheric scientist, at a news conference from European
Space Agency offices in Paris said today that "There's no source of oxygen
available, which is a good thing or Titan would have exploded a long time
ago."

Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?


Since when has -290 degrees stopped a match from working???

In article , Robert Geake
wrote:

"sirhandel" wrote in message
...
Toby Owen, an atmospheric scientist, at a news conference from European
Space Agency offices in Paris said today that "There's no source of oxygen
available, which is a good thing or Titan would have exploded a long time
ago."

Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?


Since when has -290 degrees stopped a match from working???



When it has no oxygen to be an oxidant for ignition, as oxygen is a
liquid at -297.3°F and 1 atmosphere of pressure. I'm not sure what the
pressure is on Titan, but -290 is very close to the liquid point.

http://www-safety.deas.harvard.edu/services/oxygen.html


HTH..

Milton Aupperle
http://www.outcastsoft.com/AstroImages/AstroIndex.html

Milton Aupperle wrote:

In article , Robert Geake
wrote:

"sirhandel" wrote in message
...

Toby Owen, an atmospheric scientist, at a news conference from European
Space Agency offices in Paris said today that "There's no source of oxygen
available, which is a good thing or Titan would have exploded a long time
ago."

Apart from Oxygen don't we need an exposed flame or spark?

Where does that come from at -290 degrees F?

Electrical storms would do the trick. If any free oxygen were present.

Since when has -290 degrees stopped a match from working???

When it has no oxygen to be an oxidant for ignition, as oxygen is a
liquid at -297.3°F and 1 atmosphere of pressure. I'm not sure what the
pressure is on Titan, but -290 is very close to the liquid point.

O2 liquifies at ~90K & methane solidifies, ethane and propane stay as
gasses until slightly colder 89K and 85K respectively.

But that doesn't really matter as solid oxidiser and liquid fuels will
burn OK (as will liquid oxidiser and solid fuel).

Glycerine on permanganate, or conc sulphuric acid on chlorate (antique
matches) would be suitable examples of liquid + solid = fire.

Regards,
Martin Brown