423-methane-earth-pan-dixon - A sweeping, cinematic panorama visualizes the ancient, hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere of Archean Earth under an amber sky. To the left, a turbulent primordial sea beats against dark, submerged volcanic rocks under a thick bank of orange clouds, where a giant crescent Moon hangs low on the horizon. To the right, the rugged, barren coastline gives way to active volcanic vents or geysers blasting towering plumes of steam and gas into the air, all illuminated by a pale, muted Sun filtering through a dense methane haze. Hybrid painting, 2004, for Scientific American. © by Don Dixon.
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