Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft

Nature volume 434, pages 159–168 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is the only satellite in the Solar System with a substantial atmosphere. The atmosphere is poorly understood and obscures the surface, leading to intense speculation about Titan's nature. Here we present observations of Titan from the imaging science experiment onboard the Cassini spacecraft that address some of these issues. The images reveal intricate surface albedo features that suggest aeolian, tectonic and fluvial processes; they also show a few circular features that could be impact structures. These observations imply that substantial surface modification has occurred over Titan's history. We have not directly detected liquids on the surface to date. Convective clouds are found to be common near the south pole, and the motion of mid-latitude clouds consistently indicates eastward winds, from which we infer that the troposphere is rotating faster than the surface. A detached haze at an altitude of 500 km is 150–200 km higher than that observed by Voyager, and more tenuous haze layers are also resolved.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Albedo map of Titan's surface.
Figure 2: Images of Titan's south polar region.
Figure 3: Mosaic of the equatorial region of Titan's anti-saturnian hemisphere.
Figure 4: Locations of specular point observations on Titan's anti-saturnian hemisphere.
Figure 5: Full-disk image of Titan showing Xanadu Regio.
Figure 6: High-resolution views of Titan's surface.
Figure 7: Tropospheric cloud features on Titan.
Figure 8: South polar clouds seen at different wavelengths.
Figure 9: Cloud-tracked wind speeds versus latitude on Titan.
Figure 10: Images of Titan's stratospheric haze layers.
Figure 11: Intensity profiles of Titan's detached haze layer at varying latitudes.
Figure 12: Multiple haze layers in Titan's north polar hood.

References

  1. Porco, C. C. et al. Cassini imaging science: Instrument characteristics and anticipated scientific investigations at Saturn. Space Sci. Rev. 115, 363–497 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. McKay, C. P. et al. Temperature lapse rate and methane in Titan's troposphere. Icarus 129, 498–505 (1997)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Samuelson, R. E., Nath, N. R. & Borysow, A. Gaseous abundances and methane supersaturation in Titan's troposphere. Planet. Space Sci. 45, 959–980 (1997)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lunine, J. I. & Soderblom, L. A. Cassini-Huygens investigations of satellite surfaces and interiors. Space Sci. Rev. 104, 191–208 (2002)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Khare, B. N., Sagan, C., Bandurski, E. L. & Nagy, B. Ultraviolet-photoproduced organic solids synthesized under simulated jovian conditions: Molecular analysis. Science 199, 1199–1201 (1978)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lunine, J. I., Stevenson, D. J. & Yung, Y. L. Ethane ocean on Titan. Science 222, 1229–1230 (1983)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith, P. H., Lemmon, M. T. & Lorenz, R. D. Titan's surface, revealed by HST imaging. Icarus 119, 336–349 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Coustenis, A. et al. Images of Titan at 1.3 and 1.6 µm with adaptive optics at the CFHT. Icarus 154, 501–515 (2001)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gibbard, S. G. et al. Speckle imaging of Titan at 2 microns: surface albedo, haze optical depth, and tropospheric clouds. Icarus 169, 429–439 (2004)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Griffith, C. A. et al. Transient clouds in Titan's lower atmosphere. Nature 395, 575–578 (1998)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rages, K. & Pollack, J. B. Vertical distribution of scattering hazes in Titan's upper atmosphere. Icarus 55, 50–62 (1983)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Raulin, F. & Owen, T. Organic chemistry and exobiology on Titan. Space Sci. Rev. 104, 377–394 (2002)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Richardson, J., Lorenz, R. D. & McEwen, A. Titan's surface and rotation—New insights from Voyager images. Icarus 170, 113–124 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Griffith, C. A., Owen, T. & Wagener, R. Titan's surface and troposphere, investigated with ground-based, near-infrared observations. Icarus 93, 362–378 (1991)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Brown, M. E., Bouchez, A. H. & Griffith, C. A. Direct detection of tropospheric clouds near Titan's south pole. Nature 420, 795–797 (2002)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bouchez, A. et al. Keck Observatory Titan monitoring project. http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/science/titan/ (2005).

  17. Perron, J. T. & de Pater, I. Dynamics of an ice continent on Titan. Geophys. Res. Lett. 31, doi:10.1029/2004GL019802 (2004)

  18. Lorenz, R. D. & Lunine, J. I. Titan's surface before Cassini. Planet. Space Sci. (in the press) (2005)

  19. Griffith, C. A. et al. Evidence for exposure of water ice on Titan's surface. Science 300, 628–630 (2003)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Campbell, D. B. et al. Radar evidence for liquid surfaces on Titan. Science 302, 431–434 (2003)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lunine, J. I. Does Titan have an ocean? A review of current understanding of Titan's surface. Rev. Geophys. 31, 133–150 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lorenz, R. D. Crater lakes on Titan: rings, horseshoes, and bullseyes. Planet. Space Sci. 42, 1–4 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zahnle, K., Schenk, P., Levison, H. & Dones, L. Cratering rates in the outer Solar System. Icarus 163, 263–289 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Dobrovolskis, A. R. & Lissauer, J. J. Fate of ejecta from Hyperion. Icarus 169, 462–473 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Croft, S. K., Lunine, J. L. & Kargel, J. Equation of state of ammonia-water liquid—Derivation and planetological applications. Icarus 73, 279–293 (1988)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tokano, T. & Neubauer, F. M. Tidal winds on Titan caused by Saturn. Icarus 158, 499–515 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Strobel, D. F. Chemistry and evolution of Titan's atmosphere. Planet. Space Sci. 30, 839–848 (1982)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dimitrov, V. & Bar-Nun, A. Hardening of Titan's aerosols by their charging. Icarus 166, 440–443 (2003)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Hourdin, F. et al. Numerical simulation of the general circulation of the atmosphere of Titan. Icarus 117, 358–374 (1995)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rannou, P. et al. A coupled dynamics-microphysics model of Titan's atmosphere. Icarus 170, 443–462 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lemmon, M. T. et al. HST observations of Titan, 1994–1997: New surface albedo maps and detection of large-scale, sub-tropical cloud activity. Icarus (submitted)

  32. Roe, H. G. et al. Discovery of temperate latitude clouds on Titan. Astrophys. J. 618, L49–L52 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rossow, W. B., Del Genio, A. D. & Eichler, T. P. Cloud-tracked winds from Pioneer Venus OCPP images. J. Atmos. Sci. 47, 2053–2084 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Flasar, F. M., Samuelson, R. E. & Conrath, B. J. Titan's atmosphere: Temperature and dynamics. Nature 292, 693–698 (1981)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Del Genio, A. D., Zhou, W. & Eichler, T. P. Equatorial superrotation in a slowly rotating GCM: Implications for Titan and Venus. Icarus 101, 1–17 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Del Genio, A. D. & Zhou, W. Simulations of superrotation on slowly rotating planets: Sensitivity to rotation and initial condition. Icarus 120, 332–343 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Allison, M., Del Genio, A. D. & Zhou, W. Zero potential vorticity envelopes for the zonal-mean velocity of the Venus/Titan atmospheres. J. Atmos. Sci. 51, 694–702 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lemmon, M., Smith, P. & Lorenz, R. The evolution of Titan's polar hood near summer solstice. 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Paris, 18–25 July 2004) abstr. COSPAR04-A-04048 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Hutzell, W. T. et al. Simulations of Titan's brightness by a two-dimensional haze model. Icarus 119, 112–129 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Hinson, D. P. & Tyler, G. L. Internal gravity waves in Titan's atmosphere observed by Voyager radio occultation. Icarus 54, 337–352 (1983)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Friedson, A. J. Gravity waves in Titan's atmosphere. Icarus 109, 40–57 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sicardy, B. et al. The structure of Titan's stratosphere from the 28 Sgr occultation. Icarus 142, 357–390 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Korycansky, D. G. & Zahnle, K. J. Modeling crater populations on Venus and Titan. Planet. Space Sci. (in the press)

  44. West, R. A. & Smith, P. H. Evidence for aggregate particles in the atmospheres of Titan and Jupiter. Icarus 90, 330–333 (1991)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Sotin, C. et al. Cassini VIMS observations during the October 2004 flyby of Titan: Clues to the dynamics of Titan's surface. Nature (submitted)

Download references

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the many members of the imaging team who have assisted in the design of imaging sequences and camera commands and in other vital operational and image processing tasks, in particular N. Martin, E. Birath, J. Riley, B. Knowles, C. Clark, M. Belanger and D. Wilson. This work has been funded by NASA/JPL, the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Université Paris VII Denis Diderot, CEA, AIM, France.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations, Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut Street, Suite 205, Boulder, Colorado, 80301, USA

    Carolyn C. Porco, Emily Baker & Joseph Spitale

  2. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2880 Broadway, New York, New York, 10025, USA

    John Barbara & Anthony D. Del Genio

  3. Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, E1 4NS, London, UK

    Kevin Beurle, Nick Cooper, Michael W. Evans & Carl D. Murray

  4. C.E. de Saclay, Université Paris 7, L'Orme des Merisiers, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    Andre Brahic & Sebastien Charnoz

  5. Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Space Sciences Bldg, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA

    Joseph A. Burns, Paul Helfenstein, Steven Squyres, Peter Thomas, Matthew Tiscareno & Joseph Veverka

  6. Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, 1629 E. University Blvd, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    Douglas D. Dawson, Stephanie Fussner, Alfred McEwen, Jason Perry & Elizabeth P. Turtle

  7. Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität, 12249, Berlin, Germany

    Tilmann Denk & Gerhard Neukum

  8. Department of Space Sciences, Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Colorado, 80302, Boulder, USA

    Luke Dones

  9. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 150-21, Pasadena, California, 91125, USA

    Ulyana Dyudina & Andrew P. Ingersoll

  10. Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Bernd Giese, Thomas Roatsch & Roland Wagner

  11. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California, 91109, USA

    Kevin Grazier, Robert A. Jacobson, Torrence V. Johnson, William M. Owen, Ashwin R. Vasavada & Robert West

Authors
  1. Carolyn C. Porco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emily Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John Barbara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kevin Beurle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andre Brahic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Joseph A. Burns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sebastien Charnoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Nick Cooper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Douglas D. Dawson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Anthony D. Del Genio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Tilmann Denk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Luke Dones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Ulyana Dyudina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Michael W. Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Stephanie Fussner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Bernd Giese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Kevin Grazier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Paul Helfenstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Andrew P. Ingersoll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Robert A. Jacobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. Torrence V. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. Alfred McEwen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. Carl D. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. Gerhard Neukum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. William M. Owen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. Jason Perry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  27. Thomas Roatsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  28. Joseph Spitale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  29. Steven Squyres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  30. Peter Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  31. Matthew Tiscareno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  32. Elizabeth P. Turtle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  33. Ashwin R. Vasavada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  34. Joseph Veverka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  35. Roland Wagner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  36. Robert West
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn C. Porco.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porco, C., Baker, E., Barbara, J. et al. Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft. Nature 434, 159–168 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03436

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03436

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing