Scientists Successfully Create First Map Of Saturn’s Largest Moon

For your information, scientists have been put a lot of effort into researching Saturn. Working with Cassini’s mission produced by NASA, a scientist named Rosaly Lopes (Caltech) and her colleague created a comprehensive view of Saturn’s geological features by collecting data from this project. In an attempt to characterize the surface clearly, the high-resolution radar, which is over 100 fly-bys captured details across including both how the geological features are diverse on Titan and how they’ve evolved over time.  

The most fascinating feature in this unique map is that it shows the same processes which work on Earth also happen on Titan. Only on Titan, flat plains make up two thirds (65 %) of the surface. More notably, dunes account for 17 %, just 16% is dominated by mountainous or very high ones, and 1,5 % is covered by labyrinthine terrain from erosion and rain. 

The further dissimilarities between Titan and Earth are the temperature and liquid carving. The temperature on Titan is freezing cold (roughly -291°F) and it has no water but just 2% hydrocarbons (methane). Thanks to all those features, scientists suggest Titan’s surface is relatively young, which is a far cry from Earth’s 4,54 billion - year surface. 

Although this map isn’t the first map of Saturn’s moon Titan, it is the global one landscaping all the surface of Saturn’s largest moon. The geological map plays a substantial role in cosmos exploration. Not only does it help NASA make a better understanding of Titan which remains mysteries, but it also contributes to revealing patterns existing on the surface of Titan. Thus, NASA’s team has the driving force behind their breakthroughs.