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Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft

Author

Listed:
  • Carolyn C. Porco

    (Space Science Institute)

  • Emily Baker

    (Space Science Institute)

  • John Barbara

    (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies)

  • Kevin Beurle

    (University of London)

  • Andre Brahic

    (C.E. de Saclay, Université Paris 7)

  • Joseph A. Burns

    (Cornell University)

  • Sebastien Charnoz

    (C.E. de Saclay, Université Paris 7)

  • Nick Cooper

    (University of London)

  • Douglas D. Dawson

    (University of Arizona)

  • Anthony D. Del Genio

    (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies)

  • Tilmann Denk

    (Freie Universität)

  • Luke Dones

    (Southwest Research Institute)

  • Ulyana Dyudina

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Michael W. Evans

    (University of London)

  • Stephanie Fussner

    (University of Arizona)

  • Bernd Giese

    (Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center)

  • Kevin Grazier

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Paul Helfenstein

    (Cornell University)

  • Andrew P. Ingersoll

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Robert A. Jacobson

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Torrence V. Johnson

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Alfred McEwen

    (University of Arizona)

  • Carl D. Murray

    (University of London)

  • Gerhard Neukum

    (Freie Universität)

  • William M. Owen

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Jason Perry

    (University of Arizona)

  • Thomas Roatsch

    (Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center)

  • Joseph Spitale

    (Space Science Institute)

  • Steven Squyres

    (Cornell University)

  • Peter Thomas

    (Cornell University)

  • Matthew Tiscareno

    (Cornell University)

  • Elizabeth P. Turtle

    (University of Arizona)

  • Ashwin R. Vasavada

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Joseph Veverka

    (Cornell University)

  • Roland Wagner

    (Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center)

  • Robert West

    (California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is the only satellite in the Solar System with a substantial atmosphere. The atmosphere is poorly understood and obscures the surface, leading to intense speculation about Titan's nature. Here we present observations of Titan from the imaging science experiment onboard the Cassini spacecraft that address some of these issues. The images reveal intricate surface albedo features that suggest aeolian, tectonic and fluvial processes; they also show a few circular features that could be impact structures. These observations imply that substantial surface modification has occurred over Titan's history. We have not directly detected liquids on the surface to date. Convective clouds are found to be common near the south pole, and the motion of mid-latitude clouds consistently indicates eastward winds, from which we infer that the troposphere is rotating faster than the surface. A detached haze at an altitude of 500 km is 150–200 km higher than that observed by Voyager, and more tenuous haze layers are also resolved.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolyn C. Porco & Emily Baker & John Barbara & Kevin Beurle & Andre Brahic & Joseph A. Burns & Sebastien Charnoz & Nick Cooper & Douglas D. Dawson & Anthony D. Del Genio & Tilmann Denk & Luke Dones &, 2005. "Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7030), pages 159-168, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7030:d:10.1038_nature03436
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03436
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