Scientists at UCL have observed how a widespread polar wind is driving gas from the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. The team analysed data gathered over seven years by the […]
Titan
Posted inOrigin & Evolution of Life, Titan
Life Not As We Know It Is Possible on Saturn's Moon Titan
A new type of methane-based, oxygen-free life form that can metabolize and reproduce similar to life on Earth has been modeled by a team of Cornell University researchers. Taking a […]
Posted inTitan
Simulations of Titan's Paleoclimate
We investigate the effects of varying Saturn’s orbit on the atmospheric circulation and surface methane distribution of Titan. Using a new general circulation model of Titan’s atmosphere, we simulate its […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Titan
NASA-led Study Sees Titan Glowing at Dusk and Dawn
New maps of Saturn’s moon Titan reveal large patches of trace gases shining brightly near the north and south poles. Image: High in the atmosphere of Titan, large patches of […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Titan
Ethyl Cyanide on Titan: Spectroscopic Detection and Mapping Using ALMA
We report the first spectroscopic detection of ethyl cyanide (C2H5CN) in Titan’s atmosphere, obtained using spectrally and spatially resolved observations of multiple emission lines with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter array […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
Titan's Swirling Polar Cloud is Cold and Toxic
The international Cassini mission has revealed that a giant, toxic cloud is hovering over the south pole of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, after the atmosphere has cooled in a dramatic […]
Posted inTitan
ALMA Measurements of the HNC and HC3N Distributions in Titan's atmosphere
We present spectrally and spatially-resolved maps of HNC and HC3N emission from Titan’s atmosphere, obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) on 2013 November 17. These maps show anisotropic […]
Posted inTitan
Titan's Past and Future: 3D Modeling of a Pure Nitrogen Atmosphere and Geological Implications
Several clues indicate that Titan’s atmosphere has been depleted in methane during some period of its history, possibly as recently as 0.5-1 billion years ago. It could also happen in […]
Posted inTitan
Modeling Titan's Atmospheric Chemistry
NASA scientists have created a new recipe that captures key flavors of the brownish-orange atmosphere around Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The recipe is used for lab experiments designed to simulate […]
Posted inTitan
Equilibrium Composition Between liquid and Clathrate Reservoirs on Titan
Hundreds of lakes and a few seas of liquid hydrocarbons have been observed by the Cassini spacecraft to cover the polar regions of Titan. A significant fraction of these lakes […]