Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest? - io9 Comments

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

gunnk — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:35:04 PDT

I pick Ariel (named for the sprite in Shakespeare's The Tempest).

Mostly because it shares that name with my daughter (also named for said spirit). :-)

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

rikchik — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:19:38 PDT

Charon got totally robbed here - it has no named features because it's so hella far away that we can hardly see it. It's mysteeeerious. Plus I love the fact that you could build a bridge between Charon and Pluto.

rikchik

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:56:02 PDT

@noncornbatant: What? Don't understand your comment.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:55:38 PDT

@jakel: Huh? The article doesn't say that.

"In fact, the Epimetheus is only about 30% bigger than the Sun, so it wouldn't be [b]that much different[/b] than a solar eclipse on Earth, where the Moon and Sun are almost the same size in the sky."

Emphasis mine. I mean, if you're far enough way, I guess you can make a lot of arguments that "it's not that different" because you are looking at a tiny dot and another tiny dot. But it seems like kind of a cheap argument to me.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

EllenRose — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:23:22 PDT

Charon and its inhabitants are center stage in Varley's "The Golden Globe". Add the book to your list!

EllenRose

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

noncornbatant — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:16:46 PDT

@twophrasebark: Not as many as whatever you're implying.

noncornbatant

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:13:24 PDT

Too bad we couldn't bury Clarke on Europa. That would have been fitting.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

hapeximendios — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:30:42 PDT

wow, a reference to the late 90s battlezone remakes... anyway, no Charon? Besides having the coolest name, I think Cerebus the Aardvark was stranded there.

hapeximendios

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

dawfydd2001 — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:10:42 PDT

As an alternative look at of some of these moons, try digging out copies of Activisions Battlezone's 1 & 2 for the pc.
Given their age, I still think they look fantastic, and they at least try to get the science right, whilst allowing you to wage a covert cold war of course.
I think I'll reinstall those now actually...

dawfydd2001

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

HomoSapiensRex — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:05:50 PDT

And anyway, wouldn't that there theoretical mass-extinctionizing Nemesis the Death Star technically be a moon of the Sun and therefore the hands-down winner here? All those other moons (even the ones that go 'beep') may be great but have they ever killed themselves a whole mess of dinosaurs?

HomoSapiensRex

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

HomoSapiensRex — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:01:22 PDT

I remember when Sputnik first went up (well actually I don't, but I remember reading about when it first went up) and the media were talking about it as a 'new moon' or 'red moon'. So nuts to your moons of ice and fire, my vote goes to the only moon that goes 'beep'.

HomoSapiensRex

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

darcymcgee — Sat, 03 May 2008 22:05:18 PDT

Oh come on. How are we even debating this.

Arthur C. Clarke said it was Europa, ergo it was Europa.

Does there really need to be any further conversation on the topic?

darcymcgee

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

jakel — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:12:41 PDT

@twophrasebark: Actually this happens with several other planets and moons in our own solar system. Specifically with Saturn and Epimetheus; cf Saturnian eclipse.

jakel

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

phoenix — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:05:01 PDT

Hell yeah Europa! Definitely the best!

(I knew I named my laptop Europa for a reason!)

phoenix

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:34:35 PDT

FYI, the odds of our moon being the exact right size... and right distance from the Earth... in order to appear the same size as the sun and be able to perfectly eclipse it...

...is basically zero. It happens on no other planet in our system and you could probably spend eternity trying to find such an occurrence in another system.

We take it for granted, as for granted as, well, the sun and the moon. But ask any astronomer.

Let's just say, it sort of raises some questions.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

ThePat — Sat, 03 May 2008 12:54:44 PDT

I call shenanigans.

You have to give bonus points to Titan (and Triton, I suppose) for 'likelihood of life that makes those deep sea creatures look like fluffy bunnies'.

ThePat

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

NefariousNewt — Sat, 03 May 2008 09:46:24 PDT

@moff: "I for one don't wish to go to sleep by the light of a Communist Moon!"

I love The Right Stuff.

NefariousNewt

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Klebert L. Hall — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:37:36 PDT

I don't know, Titan gets some points for having an atmosphere and weather...

-Kle.

Klebert L. Hall

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

redsun — Sat, 03 May 2008 07:53:46 PDT

Forget these moons, it's all about 1 Ceres. It's a giant, spherical asteroid / dwarf planet with a probable ocean of water and a tenuous oxogen atmosphere. It's not warm - only up to -30F - but still. It's got more potential than most of these other pretenders.

1 Ceres. The number goes before the name - that's how ill it is. It's actually an MFf'ing dwarf planet. Moons suck. Phobos? C'mon. Google 1 Ceres.

redsun

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

moff — Sat, 03 May 2008 07:33:47 PDT

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one moon, and that is the American moon, and all the rest of you pinkos can go to hell while the rest of us normal folk have some apple pie with your grandmas at a baseball game!

moff

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

ithidet — Sat, 03 May 2008 06:39:36 PDT

@mechtroid: but Pluto is about the same size as our moon!

ithidet

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Jeff-Minor — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:09:57 PDT

Our Moon wins because it's so beautiful and it's ours. Second place might go to Io, just because it's got some great color.

Jeff-Minor

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

donkeyjote — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:38:41 PDT

Charon should win the name thing. Its named after the god damn boatman after all.

That or NIX, Pluto's other moon (Or technically, the "pluto/charon binary dwarf planets"' moon). She's named after the goddess of all darkness.

donkeyjote

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

bluewyvern — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:07:58 PDT

Not sure why that's showing a link instead of a picture...it worked in the preview...

*scratches head*

bluewyvern

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

bluewyvern — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:06:46 PDT

[upload.wikimedia.org]

What a timely post. How did you know I've thinking about the moons lately and wanted to hear more about them? Thank the staff telepaths for me, io9.

This post could definitely have used more pictures, though. Another point in Europa's favor is that it's very pretty.

bluewyvern

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Tiwa — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:49:05 PDT

@Ed Grabianowski: My band Stickney is going to kick your band's ass.

Tiwa

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Zombat — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:58:58 PDT

But Charon and Pluto are tidally locked: a planet to moon elevator could be a possibility.

Zombat

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

lisas — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:07:58 PDT

Call me an old fashioned girl but my heart belongs to Luna.

lisas

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

tristansluthien — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:37:48 PDT

How does Mimas not even get mentioned???? My favoritest moon of all time. It's the Death Star, how do you beat that??

tristansluthien

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Grey_Area — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:23:12 PDT

@Annalee Newitz: Moon jiz!!

Grey_Area

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Ed Grabianowski — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:17:50 PDT

Ow, I just got my ass handed to me in a moon fight.

On the positive side, I now have a name for my new band.

Rathmore Chaos.

Ed Grabianowski

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

DocGratis — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:11:40 PDT

@twophrasebark: HAL-9000: Did they like, remove some of your brain cells or something?

HAL saying that to Dave.. that would be ironic!

DocGratis

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:21:10 PDT

And now a never before released made-up deleted scene:

HAL-9000: No. Seriously. Where?

Dave: It's just wonderful.

HAL-9000: Did they like, remove some of your brain cells or something?

Dave: it's all very clear to me now. The whole thing. It's wonderful.

HAL-9000: Yeah, I got that. Um, thanks. Thanks for that.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:14:17 PDT

@Fwiffo:

HAL-9000: What is going to happen?

Dave: Something wonderful.

HAL-9000: I'm afraid.

Dave: Don't be. We'll be together.

HAL-9000: Where will we be?

Dave: Where I am now.

twophrasebark

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:14:08 PDT

@tyr540: Enceladus is totally overrated just because it squirts.

Annalee Newitz

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Arvin Bautista — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:03:55 PDT

Europa, I always knew it was the coolest. seriously.

Arvin Bautista

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

tyr540 — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:56:49 PDT

Why no love for Enceladus? You've got to love the Tiger Stripes.

tyr540

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Matt — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:56:31 PDT

Surely Phobos and Deimos get something for having all those imps and demons and spider monsters?
You mean it was all in vain??

Matt

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Grey_Area — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:57:01 PDT

Aw shucks...
[blushes]

Grey_Area

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

bigswingdaddy — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:23:26 PDT

@Grey_Area: That... that was just full of Win, right there. nice job.

bigswingdaddy

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Damonicus — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:53:02 PDT

No Mimas?

Shafted!

Damonicus

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Epaminondas — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:51:43 PDT

@Grey_Area: Well, those crab puffs were something wonderful!

Epaminondas

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Grey_Area — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:46:48 PDT

@Fwiffo: I was at a wedding reception that this totally drunk Monolith crashed. It was all like:

"ALL THESE HORS D'OEUVRES ARE YOURS, EXCEPT THE CRAB PUFFS.
ATTEMPT NO SNACKING THERE.
EAT THEM TOGETHER. EAT THEM IN PEACE."

What a dick.

And hey, dont pick on Charon so much-- it has a *great* personality.

Grey_Area

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Tim Faulkner — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:37:11 PDT

Io wins the equivalent of Miss Congeniality -- The Best Moon Without A Consonant Award.

Tim Faulkner

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

MISS MERCY STREET — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:34:53 PDT

Phobos is going to crash into Mars sooner rather than later. How much effort do we really want to put into it?

And where's our Europa probe, dammit!

MISS MERCY STREET

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

bigswingdaddy — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:31:15 PDT

@Annalee Newitz: Really? Ganymede, after they totally blew the 2213 World Series of Space-Ball? Bah. Now I'm rooting for Phobos

bigswingdaddy

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Annalee Newitz — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:25:13 PDT

I still think Ganymede is the best.

Annalee Newitz

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

NefariousNewt — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:24:07 PDT

Bah! How about Dactyl?

NefariousNewt

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Fwiffo — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:21:14 PDT

@mechtroid: Pluto isn't exactly giant in the first place though, is it?

Fwiffo

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Fwiffo — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:15:48 PDT

@twophrasebark: Those monoliths sure are buzz killers. Don't invite them to parties.

Fwiffo

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

DocGratis — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:15:30 PDT

Hehe that was cool/interesting...

I guess you colonize the moon you have, not the moon you wish you had...

DocGratis

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

bigswingdaddy — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:13:29 PDT

@Belabras: It's a small body in an irregular orbit around another mass.

(it's too big to be a space station)

bigswingdaddy

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

mechtroid — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:10:18 PDT

Aw, come on. Charon wins for its sheer size. It's half the size of Pluto!

mechtroid

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Tim Faulkner — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:08:23 PDT

io9... um, I mean... Io is lame.

Tim Faulkner

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

Belabras — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:06:10 PDT

That's no moon....

Belabras

Satellite Smackdown -- Which Moon is the Solar System's Awesomest?

twophrasebark — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:03:40 PDT

ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA.

ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE.

USE THEM TOGETHER. USE THEM IN PEACE.

twophrasebark