Jonathan Lunine, Cornell University

The Persistence of methane On Titan Through Geologic Time

The unique aspect of the Earth among the solar system's planets is the persistence and stability of liquid water on its surface through geologic time. On Saturn's moon Titan, methane plays the role that water plays on Earth. Has methane been stable on Titan's surface over the age of the solar system? Might Titan have gone through epochs of "wet" and "dry" conditions? What is the future of methane on Titan? Cassini-Huygens data give us a tantalizing hint that Titan may have undergone dramatic changes over its history.

Host:  Richard Lovelace