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3mo ago

Methane Clouds and Key Organic Molecule Detected on Titan

JWST and Keck observations reveal Earth-like weather patterns and complex chemistry on Saturn's largest moon, advancing preparations for NASA's Dragonfly mission.

These images of Titan were taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope on July 11, 2023 (top row) and the ground-based W.M. Keck Observatories on July 14, 2023 (bottom row). They show methane clouds appearing at different altitudes in Titan’s northern hemisphere. Full image and description below. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and W.M. Keck Observatories
These infrared images of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, were created with 13 years of data acquired by the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer instrument on NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Overview

  • NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured active methane cloud convection in Titan's northern hemisphere, confirming Earth-like weather cycles.
  • Keck Observatory and JWST observed methane clouds forming and moving to higher altitudes, suggesting potential rainfall on Titan's methane lakes.
  • For the first time, JWST detected methyl radicals (CH3) in Titan's atmosphere, a critical intermediate in organic chemical reactions.
  • These findings raise questions about the sustainability of Titan's methane cycle and whether it is replenished from the moon's interior.
  • The discoveries are shaping the scientific focus for NASA's Dragonfly mission, set to explore Titan's surface and habitability potential in 2034.