Cassini - Titan

This animation shows a mosaic of imagery from Cassini's radar instrument obtained during three flybys of Titan's north pole: T16 (July 22, 2006), T18 (Sept. 23, 2006) and T19 (Oct. 9, 2006). The most striking discovery from these flybys was the near-polar hydrocarbon lakes, which are far darker than the surrounding terrain. Ranging in size from a few kilometers up to about 100 kilometers (62 miles) in diameter, they are most likely the result of increased rainfall and decreased evaporation at the cold higher latitudes. Scientists will be looking for signs of change in lake shape in future flybys covering the same area, which may indicate changes in lake level.

As the Cassini spacecraft approaches Titan during its May 5 flyby, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) focuses on the moon's atmosphere, analyzing its temperature and aerosol profiles. The Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) will acquire high-resolution imaging of Titan's trailing hemisphere at high southern latitudes and will ride along with the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) to monitor clouds. The Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument will measure thermal plasmas in Titan's ionosphere and surrounding environment, search for lightning in Titan's atmosphere, and investigate the interaction of Titan with Saturn's magnetosphere.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cassini
• saturn
• Titan

[beastlybeast22]

@Alienpimp33 Liquid methane and ethane. It's too cold there for liquid water.

[Alienpimp33]

WATER...?