Titan

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Titan The largest satellite of Saturn, and the second-largest satellite in the Solar System, diameter 5150 km; also known as Saturn VI. Titan orbits Saturn in 15.945 days at a distance of 1 221 900 km. Its axial rotation period is the same as its orbital period. At opposition it is magnitude 8.3. It was discovered in 1655 by C.Huygens. Titan is probably composed of rock and ice in about equal parts. It is the only satellite in the Solar System to have a substantial atmosphere, the surface atmospheric pressure being higher than on Earth. The atmosphere is mainly nitrogen, with 2–10% methane, 0.2% hydrogen (molecular percentages), and traces of ethane, propane, ethyne, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide. The atmospheric pressure at Titan's surface is 1.5 bar and the temperature about −180 °C. Photochemical reactions have generated dense orange clouds of hydrocarbons at a height of 200 km, while layers of atmospheric haze exist up to 500 km. The Voyager probes showed a north polar cap in the clouds of Titan with a slightly darker collar around it. Also, the northern hemisphere was distinctly darker than the southern. These are probably both seasonal effects. The satellite was closely studied by the Cassini–Huygens mission. Radar and spectroscopy revealed a complex surface of hilly terrain and extensive darker fields of dunes. There are a few raised regions, one called Xanadu which appears to show weathering and layered deposits, perhaps of organic matter. The Huygens probe successfully landed on Titan in 2005 in a region of high ground known as Adiri, east of which is a dark lower‐lying area called Shangri‐la. Adiri is etched by river valleys, fed perhaps by sporadic liquid methane rain. Weathering on Titan is not restricted to fluid erosion. Radar observations of Titan's surface by the Cassini craft show what appear to be thousand‐kilometre‐long dune fields of an unknown material.

Titan , in astronomy, the largest of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn . Also known as Saturn VI (or S6), Titan is 3,200 mi (5,150 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a mean distance of 759,209 mi (1,221,830 km), and has equal orbital and rotational periods of 15.9454 earth days. Titan was discovered by the Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens in 1655. Titan was thought to be the largest satellite in the solar system until recently, when it was recognized that estimates of its size had included its thick atmosphere. Titan's solid surface is slightly smaller than that of Ganymede , the largest of Jupiter's satellites. Titan is composed of about half water ice and half rocky materials. It probably consists of several layers, with a 2,100 mi (3,400 km) rocky center surrounded by several layers of different forms of crystal ice. The solid surface is surrounded by an atmosphere consisting mostly of molecular nitrogen with small amounts of methane, ethane, and other hydrocarbons. This thick, opaque atmosphere prevents the surface from being seen in visible light, although some surface detail has been observed via the Hubble Space Telescope using infrared light; one prominent feature seen in this way is c.2,500 mi (4,000 km) across, about the size of the Australian continent. Titan is the only natural satellite in the solar system with a significant atmosphere, although a much thinner one has been detected around Triton , a satellite of Neptune. Titan's atmosphere was first detected spectroscopically by the Dutch-American astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper in 1944. Titan forms a satellite pair with Hyperion ; that is, the two moons interact gravitationally. In 2004 the space probe Huygens, which had been carried to Saturn by Cassini, landed on Titan and returned photographs of its surface.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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