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Titan is one of Saturn's many satellites, and is the planet's largest moon. It is also the only moon in our solar system known to have a dense atmosphere. It's diameter is nearly 50% larger than our own moon and it is the 2nd largest moon in our solar system- larger even than planet Mercury. In fact, the moon is so massive, that it makes up 96% of the combined mass of all of Saturn's moons.
"The atmosphere of Titan is largely composed of nitrogen and its climate includes methane and ethane clouds. The climate—including wind and rain—creates surface features that are similar to those on Earth, such as sand dunes and shorelines, and, like Earth, is dominated by seasonal weather patterns. With its liquids (both surface and subsurface) and robust nitrogen atmosphere, Titan is viewed as analogous to the early Earth, although at a much lower temperature. The satellite has thus been cited as a possible host for microbial extraterrestrial life or, at least, as a prebiotic environment rich in complex organic chemistry. Researchers have suggested a possible underground liquid ocean might serve as a biotic environment.[9][10]"To quote the movie Anchorman, I could see Titan saying to Saturn: "I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal..."
Thanks to NASA's Cassini–Huygens program, we have extremely detailed images of Titan. The Huygens probe landed on the moon on January 14th, 2005. It was able to photograph the moon for about 90 minutes after landing. Check out this image taken from the Huygens probe after landing.
Cassini is in fact still orbiting the moon and has detailed much of its surface. In fact, it is now known that liquid ethane exists on the moon, much like Earth's oceans- in huge basins edged by intricate coastlines not unlike our own.
One last bit of info about the moon from its Wiki article:
"Scientists believe that the atmosphere of early Earth was similar in composition to the current atmosphere on Titan. Many hypotheses have developed that attempt to bridge the step from chemical to biological evolution. The Miller-Urey experiment and several following experiments have shown that with an atmosphere similar to that of Titan and the addition of UV radiation, complex molecules and polymer substances like tholins can be generated. The reaction starts with dissociation of nitrogen and methane, forming hydrocyan and ethyne. Further reactions have been studied extensively.[87]
All of these experiments have led to the suggestion that enough organic material exists on Titan to start a chemical evolution analogous to what is thought to have started life on Earth. While the analogy assumes the presence of liquid water for longer periods than is currently observable, several theories suggest that liquid water from an impact could be preserved under a frozen isolation layer.[88] It has also been observed that liquid ammonia oceans could exist deep below the surface;[9][89] one model suggests an ammonia–water solution as much as 200 km deep beneath a water ice crust, conditions that, "while extreme by terrestrial standards, are such that life could indeed survive".[10] Heat transfer between the interior and upper layers would be critical in sustaining any sub-surface oceanic life.[9]
Detection of microbial life on Titan would depend on its biogenic effects. That the atmospheric methane and nitrogen are of biological origin has been examined, for example.[10] Hydrogen has been cited as one molecule suitable to test for life on Titan: if methanogenic life is consuming atmospheric hydrogen in sufficient volume, it will have a measurable effect on the mixing ratio in the troposphere.[90]"
Who knew???
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