Thin Oxygen-CO2 Atmosphere Discovered On Rhea 37
Randyll writes "During its Saturn flyby in March, the Cassini space probe detected an oxygen-rich atmosphere on Rhea, Saturn's second-largest moon. While 100 times thinner than the atmospheres of Europa or Ganymede, Rhea's atmosphere contains a surprising amount of carbon dioxide. There is an explanation for the oxygen — the decomposition of surface ice — while the origin of the carbon dioxide is a mystery. A few of the possible explanations are that Rhea has carbon-rich organic molecules or that the gas is seeping from Rhea's interior. However, researchers have been unable to determine the exact source for the gas."
While "richness" is relative — the study's abstract refers to Rhea's atmosphere as "tenuous," and oxygen concentrations are trillions of times lower there than they are on Earth — the finding still puts Rhea in rare company among the planets and moons of the solar system.
Re:Stupid writing (Score:5, Insightful)
100 times thinner compared to what?
The atmospheres of Europa or Ganymede.
If they mean that Rhea's atmosphere is 1% or 1/100th as dense as Europa's then just say that.
They did say that. You're simply either a) unable to comprehend English, or b) so compelled to pedantry that said desire short-circuited the parts of your brain dedicated to the comprehension of the English language.
Re:Stupid writing (Score:4, Insightful)
Fine - try looking at it a different way. Let's say that Europa has an atmospheric density of 100 units. If someone were to say that Rhea's was one time thinner, what would the density of Rhea's atmosphere be?
Someone wouldn't say "one time thinner".... But let's say someone said Rhea's atmosphere was twice as thin, two times thinner, half as thick, whatever you prefer, as Europa's then the density of Rhea's atmosphere would be 50 units.
Go read this explanation [theweatherprediction.com] of the difference in density between air and water, it will probably make this whole atmosphere thing make more sense.
Re:How come? (Score:3, Insightful)
at least one sane soul!
Re:How come? (Score:3, Insightful)