Instead of a mystery concerning murder and mayhem today, let's travel to a place that will more than likely always remain a big mystery to us all...space!
Ahuna Mons
Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/LPI via Space.com
Ahuna Mons (aka “the Pyramid”) is located “in the middle of nowhere” on the dwarf planet Ceres, which mystifies NASA’s Dawn spacecraft mission science team member Paul Schenk, a geologist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas. Normally, such formations are associated with craters. Nearly 6.5 kilometers (4 mi) high and 16 kilometers (10 mi) wide, the pyramid-shaped peak is also mysterious for another reason: Inexplicable “bright streaks” run down its sides, resembling the equally mysterious bright spots that appear inside Ceres’s Occator Crater.
Initially stumped as to the origin of Ahuna Mons, scientists now believe it may be “a gigantic ice volcano.” Erupting saltwater from the planet’s interior caused the Pyramid to form gradually, over millions of years. David A. Williams of Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration says scientists hope to see “some venting” as Ceres approaches the Sun.
So here we are, stuck for the time being on the planet Earth, and we are trying to figure out what's going on in a place far, far away. Does that seem logical to you? Most of us are having a hard enough time trying to figure out what is going on around Washington, ya know?
Coffee inside this morning, as they are predicting rain
We stand a better chance of understanding the mysteries of space than the mysteries of Washington.
ReplyDeleteWhat Sixbears said.
ReplyDeleteI am with Sixbears on this one also. Scientists will probably figure this one out long before we get any answers out of Washington.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding space or Washington? I'm not sure what a "dwarf planet" is or why Pluto isn't a planet anymore....
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that salt water ice volcanoes is an interesting idea on many levels!
Space is terrific to look at, but I agree - let's solve mysteries and problems here at home base before we spend too much time and money on figuring out an ice volcano on some distant astral body.
ReplyDeleteRain is here, finally!
While I am interested on space I am not happy to see that much money spent on research as we have way to many problems not being solved here on earth.
ReplyDeleteWe could use a bit of rain around here. Our water table was doing pretty good for a while but it's time for some rain. Coffee in the kitchen is fine
Maybe we should send the politicians to investigate!?
ReplyDeleteHey Sixbears...
ReplyDeleteBoy, you got that right!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Linda...
Sad but how very true. The mysteries along the Beltway are almost unknown to us poor common folks, and probably always will be.
Thanks for coming over today!
Hey Rob...
It does seem to be an interesting concept, doesn't it? I figured ice and volcanoes don't really seem to go together in my head, ya know?
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Sis...
I'm more likely to understand the quantum physics thing than either of the above, ya know?
Thanks, sis, for stopping by today!
Hey Jo...
Reckon it gives the scientist something to do in their spare time.
Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!
Hey Ian...
Now that's an idea I can live with, for sure!
Thanks for the visit this morning, sir!