River networks on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, point to a puzzling geologic history
Friday, July 20, 2012 - 11:01
in Astronomy & Space
New findings suggest the surface of Saturn's largest moon may have undergone a recent transformation. For many years, Titan's thick, methane- and nitrogen-rich atmosphere kept astronomers from seeing what lies beneath. Saturn's largest moon appeared through telescopes as a hazy orange orb, in contrast to other heavily cratered moons in the solar system. Researchers have now analyzed images of Titan's river networks and determined that in some regions, rivers have created surprisingly little erosion.