Titan

views updated May 14 2018

Ti·tan / ˈtītn/ 1. Greek Mythol. any of the older gods who preceded the Olympians and were the children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth). Led by Cronus, they overthrew Uranus; Cronus' son, Zeus, then rebelled against his father and eventually defeated the Titans. ∎  [as n.] (usu. a titan) a person or thing of very great strength, intellect, or importance: a titan of American industry.2. Astron. the largest satellite of Saturn, the fifteenth closest to the planet, discovered by C. Huygens in 1655, and having a diameter of 3,200 miles (5,150 km). It is unique in having a hazy atmosphere of nitrogen, and methane and other hydrocarbons.

Titan

views updated May 17 2018

Titan Largest satellite of Saturn, and the second largest in the Solar System, discovered (1655) by Christiaan Huygens. It is unique among planetary satellites in having a substantial atmosphere. It is composed of rock and water-ice in roughly equal proportions. The space probe Voyager 1 found no gaps in an opaque, reddish cloud layer c.200km (125mi) above the surface. The atmosphere consists mostly of nitrogen, with some methane and other hydrocarbon compounds. The surface temperature is 95K, at which methane can exist as solid, liquid or gas, so methane may play the role that water does on Earth, forming clouds, rain, and lakes.

Titan

views updated Jun 11 2018

Titan in Greek mythology, any of the older gods who preceded the Olympians and were the children of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth). Led by Cronus, they overthrew Uranus; Cronus' son, Zeus, then rebelled against his father and eventually defeated the Titans.

In early poetry, Titan is used as a name for the sun-god, or for the sun personified, or for the elder brother of Cronus as the first-born of the race. From the early 19th century, titan has denoted a person or thing of very great strength, intellect, or importance.

Titan

views updated May 23 2018

Titan In Greek mythology, one of 12 gods and goddesses who were the sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. They preceded the Olympians who, led by Zeus, overthrew them.

Titan

views updated May 08 2018

Titan (Saturn VI) One of the major satellites of Saturn, with a radius of 2575 km; mass 1345.5× 1020kg; mean density 1881kg/m3; visual albedo 0.21. It was discovered in 1655 by C. Huygens.

Titan

views updated May 23 2018

Titan the sun-god XV; (pl.) family of giants, born of Uranus and Gaea, (sg.) ancestor of these XVII; (gen.) giant XIX. — L. Tītan, -án-, elder brother of Kronos — Gr. Tītán, pl. Tītânes.
Hence titanic XVII.