Here we present the current state of knowledge on the long-term evolution of Saturn’s moon system due to tides within Saturn. First we provide some background on tidal evolution, orbital […]
Titan
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Titan
Organic Hazes As A Source Of Life’s Building Blocks To Warm Little Ponds On The Hadean Earth
Over 4 billion years ago, Earth is thought to have been a hazy world akin to Saturn’s moon Titan. The organic hazes in the atmosphere at this time could contain […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Saturn, Status Report, Titan
The Fate of Simple Organics on Titan’s Surface: A Theoretical Perspective
Atmospheric photochemistry on Titan continuously transforms methane and nitrogen gases into various organic compounds.
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Saturn, Titan
Titan’s “Magic Islands” Are Likely Honeycombed Hydrocarbon Icebergs
Titan’s “magic islands” are likely floating chunks of porous, frozen organic solids, a new study finds, pivoting from previous work suggesting they were gas bubbles. The study was published in […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Mars, Status Report, Titan, Venus
Dynamics And Clouds In Planetary Atmospheres From Telescopic Observations
This review presents an insight into our current knowledge of the atmospheres of the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, the satellite Titan, and those of exoplanets.
Posted inIcy Worlds, Status Report, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Resonant Stratification In Titan’s Global Ocean
Titan’s ice shell floats on top of a global ocean revealed by the large tidal Love number k2=0.616±0.067 registered by Cassini. The Cassini observation exceeds the predicted k2 by one […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Titan, Tricorders & Sensors
Dragonfly Astrobiology Mission To Titan Can Proceed With Final Mission Design Work
NASA’s Dragonfly mission has been authorized to proceed with work on final mission design and fabrication – known as Phase C – during fiscal year (FY) 2024. The agency is […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Press Release, Titan
Could Malononitrile Form In Titan’s Atmosphere?
NASA-supported scientists have shown that the atmosphere of Titan could be an ideal environment in which to make a specific compound relevant to the origins of life on Earth.
Posted inAstrogeology, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Titan
Studies Of Geologic Faulting On Icy Moons Aid Exploration Of Extraterrestrial Watery Worlds
On the surface of many of the icy moons in our solar system, scientists have documented strike-slip faults, those that occur when fault walls move past one another sideways, as […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Titan, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The Impact Of Lake Shape And Size On Lake Breezes And Air-lake Exchanges On Titan
Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has many lakes on its surface, formed mainly of liquid methane. Like water lakes on Earth, these methane lakes on Titan likely profoundly affect […]