Titan, Saturn’s largest moon and the second-largest natural satellite in the solar system, is notable for its dense, nitrogen-rich atmosphere and its surface, which is concealed by orange haze. Discovered in 1655 by Christiaan Huygens, Titan is one of the few places in the solar system with clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid, including lakes and rivers of ethane and methane. Its thick atmosphere and surface chemistry are of great interest because they are thought to be similar to those of early Earth, potentially offering clues about the origins of life. Titan’s diverse geography encompasses large dunes, icy plains, and mountain ranges, making it a dynamic subject of study. The Cassini-Huygens mission, which explored Titan from 2004 to 2017, provided significant insights into its atmospheric conditions and surface processes, enhancing its profile as a compelling destination for future astrobiological missions.
Researchers from Cornell University have utilized bistatic radar data from Cassini’s flybys of Titan to analyze the surface properties of its hydrocarbon seas. The study…
Researchers discover that wave activity on Saturn’s largest moon may be strong enough to erode the coastlines of lakes and seas. MIT researchers have used…
NASA’s Dragonfly mission, set to explore Saturn’s moon Titan, has progressed to final design and construction stages with a confirmed launch in 2028 and a…
New study uses Titan’s atmosphere as a natural laboratory to delve deeper into the chemistry of the methane molecule – a molecule that, on Earth,…
Astrobiologist finds Titan may not have enough amino acids for life to emerge. A study led by Western astrobiologist Catherine Neish shows the subsurface ocean…
Saturn’s largest moon rains and snows ethane, methane, and fancier organic compounds. On the ground, accumulated chunks may calve like glaciers at the edges of…
Scientists have discovered strike-slip faults on the icy moons of our solar system, similar to those seen at the San Andreas fault in California. These…
NASA’s Dragonfly mission is progressing to build a nuclear-powered drone for Saturn’s moon Titan, targeting a 2028 launch. The mission, involving extensive collaboration and technical…
NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Titan advances to final design phase in 2024, with a re-planned launch date in 2028. The mission aims to explore Titan…
NASA’s Dragonfly Team Soars through Major Design Review The Dragonfly mission, led by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), recently passed the weeklong Preliminary…
A new NASA mission to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is due to launch in 2027. When it arrives on the giant moon in the mid-2030s,…
On the morning of Saturday, November 5, an international team of planetary scientists woke up with great delight to the first Webb images of Saturn’s…
A new hypothesis reveals that a global sedimentary cycle driven by seasons could explain the formation of landscapes on Saturn’s moon Titan. The research shows…
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is a natural laboratory to study the origins of life. Like Earth, Titan has a dense atmosphere and seasonal weather cycles,…
Among our solar system’s many moons, Saturn’s Titan stands out – it’s the only moon with a substantial atmosphere and liquid on the surface. It…
Far below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Cornell astronomers have estimated that the…
New research on nine craters of Saturn’s largest moon provides more details about how weathering affects the evolution of the surface — and what lies…
NASA scientists identified a molecule in Titan’s atmosphere that has never been detected in any other atmosphere. In fact, many chemists have probably barely heard…