Weather Activity Detected on a Distant Moon for the First Time
Partially cloudy with a possibility of methane? According to astronomers with the The Space Telescope Science Institute states They have…
Partially cloudy with a possibility of methane? According to astronomers with the
The Space Telescope Science Institute states
They have identified signs of ongoing weather systems on Titan, which is Saturn’s biggest moon, aiding in the development of theories about this celestial body.
By utilizing information gathered from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope along with observations from the Keck II telescope located in Hawaii, scientists have reported identifying cloud patterns above regions containing methane and ethane liquids within Titan’s north polar area.
This finding is significant since earlier observations had merely indicated that meteorological activities took place in its southern hemisphere.
The imagery obtained via this technology showed clouds over the mid- to high-northern latitudes, an area experiencing summertime.
“Titan stands as the sole celestial body within our solar system besides Earth that experiences weather patterns such as clouds and rain falling to its surface,” stated Conor Nixon from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, Maryland, according to an official release.
SEE THE OBJECTS HUMANS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON
According to
NASA
, Titan features a thick nitrogen-rich atmosphere and seems to have an active weather cycle akin to Earth’s.
Due to its unique atmosphere, temperatures are thought to hover around -290 degrees Fahrenheit, but despite the frigid environment, evaporation, cloud formation and rainfall all occur.
Most of Titan’s lakes are located in the northern hemisphere and share similarities with North America’s Great Lakes in their structural makeup. These bodies of liquid are replenished by rain composed primarily of methane.
Unlike
Earth
The troposphere of Titan stretches significantly further, extending approximately 27 miles above its surface. In contrast, Earth’s troposphere only reaches up to around 7 miles high, as reported by scientists from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Saturn is thought to have around 274 moons – more than any other planet in the solar system – but it is unknown if any of the natural satellites exhibit characteristics similar to Titan.
TELESCOPE CAPTURES SIGHT OF BRIGHT AURORAS, BUT THESE AREN’T ON EARTH
As methane in Titan’s atmosphere gradually diminishes over time, and lacking a renewing source, the satellite might lose its atmospheric layer—much like what could have happened to.
Mars
.
Nixon explained that on Titan, methane serves as a resource. It might continually get replenished and escape from the surface and core for eons. Without this constant supply, however, Titan would ultimately lose all its methane, transforming into an almost airless environment dominated by dust and sand dunes.
NASA intends to send a helicopter for launch.
To monitor Titan, however, a launch isn’t expected until 2028, with an estimated arrival around 2034.
“Thanks to input from collaborators worldwide, Dragonfly’s science equipment aims to assess how hospitable Titan’s setting is, explore the development of prebiotic compounds on Titan—where carbon-rich substances and liquid water might have mingled over long stretches—and look for signs indicating whether either water-dependent or hydrocarbon-supported life previously thrived on Saturn’s satellite,” as explained by NASA regarding their upcoming expedition.
Original article source:
An active weather system has been observed for the first time on a distant moon.
