Titan has an abundance of lakes and seas, as confirmed by Cassini. Major components of these liquid bodies include methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6); however, evidence indicates that minor components […]
Titan
Posted inPress Release, Titan
The 3.4 μm Absorption Of Titan's Stratosphere: Contribution of Ethane, Propane, Butane and Complex Hydrogenated Organics
The complex organic chemistry harbored by the atmosphere of Titan has been investigated in depth by Cassini observations. Among them, a series of solar occultations performed by the VIMS instrument […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Press Release, Titan
Low Pressure EUV Photochemical Experiments: Insight on the Ion-Chemistry Occurring in Titan's Atmosphere
Thanks to the Cassini spacecraft onboard instruments, it has been known that Titan’s ionospheric chemistry is complex and the molecular growth is initiated through the photolysis of the most abundant […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
Studying Titan May Offer Insights About Earth
Scientists studying the weather and climate of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, have reported a significant seasonal variation in its energy budget – that is the amount of solar energy absorbed […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
The First Global Geologic Map of Titan Completed
The first map showing the global geology of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, has been completed and fully reveals a dynamic world of dunes, lakes, plains, craters and other terrains. Titan […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
Seasonal Changes In The Middle Atmosphere Of Titan From Cassini/CIRS Observations
The Cassini/Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument has been observing the middle atmosphere of Titan over almost half a Saturnian year. We used the CIRS dataset processed through the up-to-date calibration […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
Positive Ion Chemistry in an N2-CH4 Plasma Discharge: Key Precursors to the Growth of Titan Tholins
Titan is unique in the solar system as it hosts a dense atmosphere mainly made of N2 and CH4. Cassini-Huygens revealed the presence of an intense atmospheric photochemistry initiated by […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
An EUV Non-Linear Optics Based Approach to Study the Photochemical Processes of Titanś Atmosphere
In situ exploration of the planetary atmospheres requires the development of laboratory experiments to understand the molecular growth pathways initiated by photochemistry in the upper layers of the atmospheres. Major […]
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Saturn, Titan
NASA Is Designing Shapeshifting Robots for Saturn’s Moons
Mini robots that can roll, fly, float and swim, then morph into a single machine? Together they form Shapeshifter, a developing concept for a transformational vehicle to explore treacherous, distant […]
Posted inPress Release, Titan
On The H2 Abundance And Ortho-to-para Ratio In Titan's Troposphere
We have analyzed spectra recorded between 50 and 650 cm−1 by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) aboard the Cassini spacecraft at low and high emission angles to determine simultaneously the […]