What disturbed Titan? Saturn’s gravity may hold the key to this Moon's past
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: NASA
Tidal Energy
Titan loses energy as it orbits Saturn, reshaping its orbit and revealing clues about its interior structure.
Credit: NASA
Hidden Friction
Titan’s spin pole angle shows evidence of tidal friction, pointing to a turbulent orbital past.
Laser Precision
Earth’s moon's dissipation is measured with lasers, but Titan's shifts are inferred through spin-axis data.
Quick Changes
Titan’s orbit is evolving rapidly—on a geologic timescale—unveiling mysteries of its core and past.
Credit: Caltech
Orbital Mystery
Titan’s eccentric orbit suggests a major event, like an impact or lost satellite, disrupted it recently.
Core Clues
Tidal dissipation sheds light on Titan’s core makeup, hinting at subsurface ocean activity beneath its icy crust.
Past Disturbance
The noncircular orbit indicates Titan’s history was altered within the past 350 million years.
Method Expansion
Scientists hope to apply this method to other moons, like Europa and Ganymede, in future missions.
Geologic Snapshot
Titan’s current orbit captures a moment between its last major disturbance and a return to circularity.