Media Information
 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Title:
Titan's Odd Spot
Explanation:
Titan's odd spot [ http://www.jpl.nasa…news.cfm?release=200 5-086 ] could be a cloud, but if so, it's a persistent one. Peering into the thick, hazy atmosphere [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] of Saturn's largest moon [ http://www.nineplan…], cameras on board the Cassini spacecraft found a bright spot [ http://photojournal…] at the same location during Titan encounters in 2005 and 2004. Seen near Titan's upper edge in this false-color image [ http://photojournal…] from the VIMS instrument [ http://wwwvims.lpl.…], the spot is almost 500 kilometers wide, and is brightest at infrared wavelengths. In addition to suggesting the uniquely colored spot is a persistent cloud possibly controlled by surface features, researchers also entertain the idea that the spot is caused by unusual surface material or extremely tall mountains. They also note the bright infrared [ http://coolcosmos.i…] spot could be hot. Further clues to the odd spot's nature will come during a planned encounter [ http://saturn.jpl.n…saturn-tour-dates-06 .cfm ] in July 2006 when Cassini's cameras will look at the spot during Titan's night [ http://photojournal…]. If it glows at night, it's hot [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…].
Credit and Copyright:
VIMS Team [ http://wwwvims.lpl.…], U. Arizona [ http://pirlwww.lpl.…], ESA [ http://www.esa.int/], NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov…]
facet_when:
2005
facet_when:
July 2006
facet_where:
Arizona
facet_where:
Saturn
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_what:
Moon
facet_what:
Saturn
facet_what:
Cassini
facet_what:
Titan
facet_when_year:
2005
facet_when_year:
2006
original url:
http://antwrp.gsfc.…
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap050527

Titan's Odd Spot
Add To Workspace Export