Explanation: The surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is normally hidden from view by its thick, hazy atmosphere. However, for the first time astronomers have been able to see surface features in images like the one above, made at near-infrared wavelengths with the Hubble Space Telescope. At these wavelengths (longer than visible light) Titan's smog like atmosphere begins to be transparent enough to allow glimpses of it's surface. The bright feature seen above is about 2,500 miles across, similar in size to Australia. Astronomers are still trying to work out what the bright and dark areas represent - oceans, continents, craters, or other features. The images represent important information for planning the Cassini mission, scheduled for launch in 1997. The Cassini spacecraft will explore the Saturn system and parachute a probe to Titan's surface.

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami: Titan - Titan - atmosfera - infrakrasnoe izluchenie Publikacii so slovami: Titan - Titan - atmosfera - infrakrasnoe izluchenie
Sm. takzhe: Posadka na Titane zonda "Gyuigens" Oreol i tumannaya duga Galaktika Sombrero v infrakrasnom svete Vidy Titana Tumannost' Konskaya Golova v infrakrasnom svete ot teleskopa imeni Habbla Yuzhnye svetila ot teleskopa SOFIA Saturn v infrakrasnom svete ot "Kassini" Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >>