TITAN

Titan - What We Know:

Titan is the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere surrounding it.
The atmospheric pressure near Titan's surface is 60% greater than Earth at sea level.
The atmospheric temperature near Titan's surface is 95K (-178 C or -288 F).
As on Earth, the most abundant gas in Titan's atmosphere is nitrogen.
Methane is the second most abundant gas; more than a dozen other gases are present.
The thickness (extent) of Titan's atmosphere is about 10 times that of Earth.
A thick haze at 200 km (120 mi) altitude hides Titan's surface at visible wavelengths.

Titan's diameter is 5150 km (3200 mi), about 40% as large as Earth.

Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system; only Jupiter's Ganymede is larger.

Titan and Ganymede are both larger than the planets Mercury and Pluto.

Titan apparently keeps its same face toward Saturn as it orbits the planet.

Titan orbits Saturn at a distance of 1,221,830 km (759,210 mi) from Saturn's center.

Titan orbits Saturn in just under 16 days (orbital period = 15.9454 days).

Oceans (or lakes) of liquid ethane may cover a large fraction of Titan's surface.

Titan's surface is non-uniform at radar wavelengths.

Titan has a surface feature (continent?) that is bright at infrared wavelengths.

TITAN

What is the nature of Titan's surface?
What will Titan's surface tell us about the history of this moon?
Are there lakes or oceans (of liquid ethane) on the surface of Titan?
Does it rain (liquid methane) on Titan?
Are there rivers or other signs of erosion on Titan's surface?
Are there mountains or valleys on Titan's surface?
What direction do winds blow near and well above Titan's surface?
How much sunlight reaches Titan's surface?
What gases are present in Titan's atmosphere?
What are the relative abundances and altitude distributions of atmospheric gases?
How similar are Titan's surface and atmosphere to early pre-life conditions on Earth?
Could life ever exist on Titan?

Prof. Manuel Grande
Last updated: 1 July 2004