Titan's Atmosphere

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915101155.htm

In this article from Science Daily, a team of University of Hawai'i at Manoa researchers led by Ralf Kaiser, were able to discover the chemical make up of the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. Along with Venus and Earth, Titan has a solid surface and thick atmosphere. The team conducted simulation experiments using crossed molecular beams in which single collisions between molecules can be seen. Through these experiments, the team was able to investigate an hypothesis that triacetylene may produce potential precursors for the layers of haze that surround Titan. Their discovery could possibly lead us into unraveling more mysteries of the solar system. The teams next goal is to understand the missing ethane lakes on Titan. If their hypothesis is proved indeed to be true they will have made a huge discovery not only in chemistry but also in astronomy.

Posted by Taylor Brown