Planets and Moons  ID: 11352

Waveless Lakes

Story by Paul Gabrielsen Released on September 5, 2013
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Scientists explore why the pools of liquid on Saturn’s moon Titan are oddly smooth.
Lakes on another world are strange enough. But lakes without waves? Scientists studying Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, have never seen a wave in the hundreds of liquid pools discovered at its poles. Some of these pools are comparable in size to Earth’s biggest lakes. However, unlike our planet, Titan's lakes are not made of water. Data collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft show they're filled with a mix of methane, ethane and other complex hydrocarbons. Such molecules freeze at very low temperatures and can still exist as a liquid in Titan’s frigid minus 290°F weather. Cassini has surveyed Titan since it arrived at the Saturn system in 2004. Any wave, even millimeters high, would appear as a bright spot in its radar images. So why isn’t the surf up on these alien lakes? Researchers have put forth a new theory that may explain their calm surface. Watch the video to learn more.
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Why are Titan's lakes without waves? Watch this narrated video to find out.
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Lakes (blue) dot the surface of Titan’s north polar region, as seen in this false-color radar image.
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Hydrocarbon rain that falls on Titan collects in lakes like Ligeia Mare, pictured, which is twice the size of Lake Superior.
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The bright spot seen in this image is due to the reflection of sunlight off a lake at Titan's north pole.

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Science@NASA

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Paul Gabrielsen (NASA/GSFC)

Please give credit for this item to:
Science@NASA and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Lakes image courtesy of NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Ligeia Mare image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell
Sun reflection image courtesy of NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11352

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons