Titan Archives

Energy deposition E0 in J m−1 for individual meteoroids of a given mass descending through Titan’s atmosphere. The inversion at lower altitudes occurs as the particles begin to both decelerate and lose mass, resulting in a decreasing amount of energy being deposited. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Titan

Shock Synthesis of Organic Molecules by Meteoroids in the Atmosphere of Titan

by Keith CowingJuly 21, 2023July 21, 2023

Thermochemical modeling and shock-tube experiments show that shocks applied to N2/CH4 gas mixtures can synthesize organic molecules. Sufficiently large, hypersonic meteoroids entering the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan should therefore […]

Zonal-mean zonal wind u and TEM streamfunction Ψ ∗ for northern hemisphere late summer and late autumn. Six contour levels are shown for Ψ ∗ at ±107 , ±108 and ±109 kg s−1 (negative contours dashed). Positive Ψ ∗ indicates clockwise overturning. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Status Report, Titan

Equatorial Waves And Superrotation In The Stratosphere Of A Titan General Circulation Model

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2023July 13, 2023

We investigate the characteristics of equatorial waves associated with the maintenance of superrotation in the stratosphere of a Titan general circulation model.

Analysis of the R(11) region of the far-infrared spectrum of 12CH4, taken at room temperature with a mixture of nitrogen at 133 mbar (see Ref. [13]). The observed spectrum is shown in the upper part, in red and the fitted spectrum in blue. The fit residuals are presented in the lower panel. A water vapor line, included in the fit, is also identified. astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Titan

Self and N2 Collisional Broadening Of Far-infrared Methane Lines At Low-temperature With Application To Titan

by Keith CowingJuly 5, 2023July 5, 2023

We report the measurement of broadening coefficients of pure rotational lines of methane at different pressure and temperature conditions.

Van Krevelen diagrams of a) 2 month old sample, b) 1.8 year old sample, c) 3.5 year old sample. The intensity of the points is given by the color code ranging from blue (lowest abundance) to red (highest abundance). Mass spectra of five different families present in the sample are given for the d) 2 month old sample, e) 1.8 year old sample, f) 3.5 year old sample. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Status Report, Titan

Humid Evolution of Haze in the Atmosphere of Super-Earths in the Habitable Zone

by Keith CowingJune 2, 2023June 2, 2023

Photochemical hazes are expected to form and significantly contribute to the chemical and radiative balance of exoplanets with relatively moderate temperatures, possibly in the habitable zone of their host star.

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Press Release, Titan

Spitzer IRS Observations of Titan as a Precursor to JWST MIRI Observations

by Keith CowingMay 22, 2023May 22, 2023

In this work we present, for the first time, infrared spectra of Titan from the Spitzer Space Telescope (2004−2009).

An artist's impression of the 'light curve' produced by a star passing behind Titan. The spike at the center of the light curve represents the central flash produced by Titan's atmosphere acting as a lens and refracting the starlight toward a single focal point. Credit: NASA/ESA/C.Carreau

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Titan

Using Stars To Study Titan’s Atmosphere

by Keith CowingApril 11, 2023April 11, 2023

With its thick atmosphere and mysterious weather patterns, Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is an alien world ripe with discovery potential.

Potential energy surface of the CN + toluene reaction at the level of CCSD(T)/CBS//M06–2X-D3/6-311+G(d,p) in this work. The energetically favorable pathways are represented in red. Energies in parentheses are the results calculated at the level of M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ from Messinger et al. (Messinger et al. 2020). astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report, Titan

Reaction Kinetics Of CN + Toluene And Its Implication On The Productions Of Aromatic Nitriles In The Taurus Molecular Cloud And Titan’s Atmosphere

by Keith CowingApril 10, 2023April 10, 2023

Reactions between cyano radical and aromatic hydrocarbons are believed to be important pathways for the formation of aromatic nitriles in the interstellar medium (ISM) including those identified in the Taurus […]

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Titan, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) Will Study Complex Chemistry On Titan

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2023March 18, 2023

A new NASA mission to Saturn’s giant moon, Titan, is due to launch in 2027. When it arrives in the mid-2030s, it will begin a journey of discovery that could […]

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Titan

Interaction Dust-plasma In Titan’s Ionosphere: Feedbacks On The Gas Phase Composition

by Keith CowingMarch 3, 2023March 3, 2023

Titan’s organic aerosols are formed in the ionosphere, a layer ionized by solar VUV photons and energetic particles from the magnetosphere of Saturn, forming a natural N2-CH4-H2 plasma.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Titan

Experimental Characterization Of The Pyridine:Acetylene Co-crystal and Implications For Titan’s Surface

by Keith CowingMarch 1, 2023March 1, 2023

Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, has a plethora of organic compounds in the atmosphere and on the surface that interact with each other.

Titan

Shock Synthesis of Organic Molecules by Meteoroids in the Atmosphere of Titan

Equatorial Waves And Superrotation In The Stratosphere Of A Titan General Circulation Model

Self and N2 Collisional Broadening Of Far-infrared Methane Lines At Low-temperature With Application To Titan

Humid Evolution of Haze in the Atmosphere of Super-Earths in the Habitable Zone

Spitzer IRS Observations of Titan as a Precursor to JWST MIRI Observations

Using Stars To Study Titan’s Atmosphere

Reaction Kinetics Of CN + Toluene And Its Implication On The Productions Of Aromatic Nitriles In The Taurus Molecular Cloud And Titan’s Atmosphere

Tricorder Tech: Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) Will Study Complex Chemistry On Titan

Interaction Dust-plasma In Titan’s Ionosphere: Feedbacks On The Gas Phase Composition

Experimental Characterization Of The Pyridine:Acetylene Co-crystal and Implications For Titan’s Surface

Mystery Surrounding The Formation Of Asteroid Bennu Solved

Scientists Uncover Gravity’s Impact On The Human Genome

Discovery Of Radio Emission From The Exoplanet β Pictoris b

Could Earth’s Magnetic Field Influence How Earth Life Ages?

Is A Nearby Advanced Alien Civilization Out There Waiting To Pounce On Earth? Unlikely, Says New Study