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Just wanted to share some of the discoveries from the ongoing Cassini mission to Saturn (and in particular, Saturn's moon Titan)...
source: "Cassini Targets Titan" by Richard Talcott, Astronomy magazine Feb 2005
Radar imaged ~1% of the surface of Titan with a resolution ~ 300 m
(1) possible indication of hydrocarbon lakes...although the expected bright “glints” were not seen as would be expected from a lake surface
(2) relatively flat terrain (variations of up to 150 m)
(3) no clear sign of impact craters (i.e., indicates a young surface/geologically active surface)
(4) many bright streaks (surface features) that suggest wind effects (or it could be from migrating ice sheets or flowing liquid hydrocarbons)
No strong magnetic field was detected for Titan (may still have a weak one).
Sampled Titan's upper atmosphere and among the organic molecules detected, there was methane, benzene, & diacetylene.
Based on N-15/N-14 ratios in the upper atmosphere, it looks like Titan has lost 3/4 of its atmosphere since its formation (makes the currently dense atmosphere even more amazing).
Not many clouds detected on Titan (mainly one large cloud complex near the south pole). The clouds might not be made of methane, as was expected.
Cassini discovered up to 6 additional small moons of Saturn.
source: "Cassini Targets Titan" by Richard Talcott, Astronomy magazine Feb 2005
Radar imaged ~1% of the surface of Titan with a resolution ~ 300 m
(1) possible indication of hydrocarbon lakes...although the expected bright “glints” were not seen as would be expected from a lake surface
(2) relatively flat terrain (variations of up to 150 m)
(3) no clear sign of impact craters (i.e., indicates a young surface/geologically active surface)
(4) many bright streaks (surface features) that suggest wind effects (or it could be from migrating ice sheets or flowing liquid hydrocarbons)
No strong magnetic field was detected for Titan (may still have a weak one).
Sampled Titan's upper atmosphere and among the organic molecules detected, there was methane, benzene, & diacetylene.
Based on N-15/N-14 ratios in the upper atmosphere, it looks like Titan has lost 3/4 of its atmosphere since its formation (makes the currently dense atmosphere even more amazing).
Not many clouds detected on Titan (mainly one large cloud complex near the south pole). The clouds might not be made of methane, as was expected.
Cassini discovered up to 6 additional small moons of Saturn.