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(The Guardian) Saturn’s largest moon revealed in greater detail than ever before
NASA’s James Webb telescope has released new images of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.
The moon’s surface has always been hidden because of its dense atmosphere but the Webb telescope’s infrared capacity has captured the dark and bright patches on its surface.
Titan is unique in the solar system. It is the only planetary body other than Earth that has rivers, lakes, and seas. Rather than water, they are made up of “hydrocarbons” — molecules like ethane and methane.
The two clouds seen by Webb validate long-held predictions that clouds form in the northern hemisphere during Titan’s late summer, when the Sun warms its surface. Follow-up observations by the Keck Observatory also revealed clouds, confirming seasonal weather patterns.
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