Astronomy and Space

Atmosphere of Titan

The atmosphere of Titan is the layer of gases surrounding Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Titan is the only natural satellite in the Solar System with an atmosphere denser than Earth's and is one of two moons with an atmosphere substantial enough to drive weather, the other being Triton. Titan's lower atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (94.2%), methane (5.65%), and hydrogen (0.099%). It also contains trace amounts of various hydrocarbons and other gases, including ethane, acetylene, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, and argon. The atmosphere's distinctive orange color is caused by complex organic compounds known as tholins. The surface pressure on Titan is about 50% higher than on Earth, at 1.5 bar (150 kPa). This pressure is above the triple point of methane, allowing liquid methane to exist on the surface alongside gaseous methane in the atmosphere.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸CASSIOPE
• ▸Julia Margaret Cameron
• ▸Beta Hydri

Uncatalogued shelf

Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.