Moons episode ...
Saw “Moons” last night. Good graphics (again) different simulation sequences and a different bunch of scientist types. I kinda enjoyed it.
- Enter the notorious ‘Astrobiologists’ - Chris Mackay, David Grinspoon, (didn’t catch the rest of the names);
- Went thru Io, Europa, Triton, Titan, Phobos, Deimos, our Moon, Enceladus, didn’t catch the others. Went into the creation theories of each. Very interesting and good coverage of the more interesting moons in our Solar System.
- Interviews with Planetary Scientists were good and included one of my favourites, Carolyn Porco (Head of Cassini Imaging). Really like her presentation style .. totally credible and ‘the real deal’. Amanda Hendrix featured prominently, also (big hair).
- Funny part was some mad scientist (missed his name), playing with NASA’s ‘vertical gun’ in order to simulate Theia collision with early Earth … he got very ‘excited ..“THAT is gorgeous” .. a classic quote (from a man playing with a BIG gun).
Discussed briefly the possibility of sending a remote probe underneath Europa’s ice. I’m not sure if I’d back this one. Its technically very difficult, very risky and very expensive. Chances of successful detection of lifeforms seems fairly slim with our current technologies. Decontamination prior to departure also seems fraught with problems. There are several other proposals which are less ambitious technologically, and could possibly achieve similar goals with much less risk. Will be interesting to see which option they eventually go with.
Good thought stimulating episode.
Cheers
