Why in the News?
Scientists have re examined data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and suggested that Saturn’s largest moon Titan may not have a global subsurface ocean, contrary to earlier studies.
About Titan
- Titan is the largest moon of Saturn
• Second largest moon in the solar system, after Ganymede
• Discovered in 1655 by Christiaan Huygens
• Nearly 50 percent wider than Earth’s Moon
• Only moon with a dense atmosphere
• Atmosphere dominated by nitrogen with methane
• Only body besides Earth with stable surface liquids
• Presence of rivers, lakes, and seas
• Liquids composed of methane and ethane
Scientific Significance
- Earlier models suggested a subsurface ocean
- New findings indicate uncertainty in the existence or thickness of such an ocean
- Important for understanding Titan’s internal structure
- Affects assessment of potential habitability
- Relevant for future planetary exploration missions
Cassini Spacecraft
- Cassini spacecraft was a joint mission of NASA, ESA, and ASI
- Launched in 1997
- First spacecraft to orbit Saturn
- Studied Saturn, its rings, and moons
- Carried the Huygens probe
- Huygens landed on Titan in 2005
- Provided first direct surface data from Titan
| Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? (2014)
Spacecraft — Purpose: I. Cassini-Huygens: Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth. II. Messenger: Mapping and investigating Mercury. III. Voyager 1 and 2: Exploring the outer solar system. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only |
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