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Related: About this forumLatest Titan Flyby Images
by JASON MAJOR on SEPTEMBER 30, 2012
On September 26-27 Cassini executed its latest flyby of Titan, T-86, coming within 594 miles (956 km) of the cloud-covered moon in order to measure the effects of the Suns energy on its dense atmosphere and determine its variations at different altitudes.
The image above was captured as Cassini approached Titan from its night side, traveling about 13,000 mph (5.9 km/s). Its a color-composite made from three separate raw images acquired in red, green and blue visible light filters.
Titans upper-level hydrocarbon haze is easily visible as a blue-green shell above its orange-colored clouds.
Cassini captured this image as it approached Titans sunlit limb, grabbing a better view of the upper haze. Some banding can be seen in its highest reaches.
The haze is the result of UV light from the Sun breaking down nitrogen and methane in Titans atmosphere, forming hydrocarbons that rise up and collect at altitudes of 300-400 kilometers. The sea-green coloration is a denser photochemical layer that extends upwards from about 200 km altitude.
Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/97654/pictures-from-t-86-cassinis-latest-flyby-of-titan/#ixzz280KayJwL
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)and government run by libertarians.
Bucky
(53,947 posts)No more of this Big Brother imposing its laws of gravitation on our personal freedom!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,271 posts)That was another libertarian Saturn moon, with a guy who built a device to get it out of orbit, and whose last words were "here, hold my beer ..."
Bucky
(53,947 posts)FirstLight
(13,357 posts)and fascinating.... it's amazing to think there are 'storms' that rain methane...wow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_%28moon%29
littlemissmartypants
(22,590 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,619 posts)Thanx for posting!
Titan's hydrocarbons could be harvested for use on Earth? Send in the energy conclomerates to get there first. LOL.