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Titan: Piercing the Fog
The first color-processed images from Titan have beamed down to Earth from over two billion miles away. To complete the sensory exploration of this alien moon, a microphone onboard the probe captured the sounds of rushing air from the atmosphere closest in density to our own.
The first color-processed images from Titan have beamed down to Earth from over two billion miles away. To complete the sensory exploration of this alien moon, a microphone onboard the probe captured the sounds of rushing air from the atmosphere closest in density to our own.
Did Fluid Once Flow on Titan?
With the latest Titan images showing channels and fluid-like branching, scientists have begun the debate anew whether fluid might have shaped the Earth-like moon. Imaging science team leader for Cassini, Carolyn Porco, describes the initial surprise and excitement of seeing Titan up close.
With the latest Titan images showing channels and fluid-like branching, scientists have begun the debate anew whether fluid might have shaped the Earth-like moon. Imaging science team leader for Cassini, Carolyn Porco, describes the initial surprise and excitement of seeing Titan up close.
Titan Close Up
The European Space Agency has released the first 3 of several hundred images captured by the Huygens probe during its descent through the atmosphere of Saturn's giant moon Titan. They reveal a world of diverse landforms, shaped at least in part by fluid erosion. Two of the images are reminiscent of early photographs of Mars.
The European Space Agency has released the first 3 of several hundred images captured by the Huygens probe during its descent through the atmosphere of Saturn's giant moon Titan. They reveal a world of diverse landforms, shaped at least in part by fluid erosion. Two of the images are reminiscent of early photographs of Mars.
Titan: Looking Back to the Future
As the Huygens probe nears its mission endpoint, the concept of trying to land an instrument on the supercold Earth-like moon, Titan, seems enough to engender wonder. But looking back over its conception at least two decades ago, the probe's trajectory stands out as a gem of planetary exploration.
As the Huygens probe nears its mission endpoint, the concept of trying to land an instrument on the supercold Earth-like moon, Titan, seems enough to engender wonder. But looking back over its conception at least two decades ago, the probe's trajectory stands out as a gem of planetary exploration.
Rendezvous with Titan
For nearly a decade, scientists around the world have been waiting patiently for the European Space Agency's Huygens probe to arrive at its destination: Saturn's giant moon Titan. Now, as the Huygens science team gathers at ESA's control center in Darmstadt, Germany, that wait is almost over. In less than 24 hours, Huygens will descend down through Titan's thick shroud of fog, taking a host of measurements along the way.
For nearly a decade, scientists around the world have been waiting patiently for the European Space Agency's Huygens probe to arrive at its destination: Saturn's giant moon Titan. Now, as the Huygens science team gathers at ESA's control center in Darmstadt, Germany, that wait is almost over. In less than 24 hours, Huygens will descend down through Titan's thick shroud of fog, taking a host of measurements along the way.
Plunge to Methane Lake?
Anthony Del Genio of the Cassini Imaging team takes a tour of the strange and perplexing world, Titan, where hurricane winds and supercold smog promise some of the most startling imagery in our solar system. The mission to descend towards Titan's surface will draw global attention in a few days, when a tiny space probe will test the limits of parachutes, cameras and communications.
Anthony Del Genio of the Cassini Imaging team takes a tour of the strange and perplexing world, Titan, where hurricane winds and supercold smog promise some of the most startling imagery in our solar system. The mission to descend towards Titan's surface will draw global attention in a few days, when a tiny space probe will test the limits of parachutes, cameras and communications.
RADAR Surprises from Titan
As scientist puzzle over the Titan images from the recent Cassini flyby, some of the most intriguing landforms appear in radar reflections. Ralph Lorenz from the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Lab takes a tour of Titan's surprises including what may be icy volcanoes.
As scientist puzzle over the Titan images from the recent Cassini flyby, some of the most intriguing landforms appear in radar reflections. Ralph Lorenz from the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Lab takes a tour of Titan's surprises including what may be icy volcanoes.
Titan's Ghostly Arrowhead
Seeing straight lines on a planet or moon may point to faultlines or icy breaks. Jupiter's moon, Europa, is covered in ridges that fractured its icy crust. But scientists are intrigued by what appears on Saturn's largest moon, Titan--particularly when the lines seem to intersect like an arrowhead.
Seeing straight lines on a planet or moon may point to faultlines or icy breaks. Jupiter's moon, Europa, is covered in ridges that fractured its icy crust. But scientists are intrigued by what appears on Saturn's largest moon, Titan--particularly when the lines seem to intersect like an arrowhead.
Titan: Where's the Wet Stuff?
One of NASA's goals in sending Cassini on its 2-billion-mile journey to Saturn was to search for lakes of liquid hydrocarbon that scientists believe may exist on the surface of the planet's moon Titan. The data are now back from Cassini's first Titan flyby. Did it find what it was looking for? Well, maybe.
One of NASA's goals in sending Cassini on its 2-billion-mile journey to Saturn was to search for lakes of liquid hydrocarbon that scientists believe may exist on the surface of the planet's moon Titan. The data are now back from Cassini's first Titan flyby. Did it find what it was looking for? Well, maybe.
Magical Xanadu
The region of most interest on Titan is a continent-sized, bright area called Xanadu. Images acquired while the Cassini probe approached the moon suggest a landscape shrouded by heavy clouds and contrasting albedo.
The region of most interest on Titan is a continent-sized, bright area called Xanadu. Images acquired while the Cassini probe approached the moon suggest a landscape shrouded by heavy clouds and contrasting albedo.