Astrobiology in Titan's lakes

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

The Cassini-Huygens mission has provided many new data which emphasize the astrobiological importance of Titan. The largest moon of Saturn is not only the unique satellite of the solar system having a dense atmosphere, it is also the only planetary body having an atmosphere with conditions close to that of the Earth atmosphere. The observations from ISS, Radar and VIMS experiments on Cassini, show the presence of light hydrocarbon lakes in the polar regions of Titan's surface, making Titan also the only solar system body having currently surface liquid reservoirs. These lakes are likely to be fed by the many organics which are produced in the atmosphere from the coupled chemistry of its main constituents, dinitrogen and methane. Those include low molecular weight hydrocarbons and nitriles, and high molecular weight organics; non volatile tholins-like material. Part of these compounds dissolve in the lake, instead of its low temperature, the rest is flooting on its surface or sinking down. The system may also chemically evolve, from the high energy cosmic rays reaching Titan's surface. The potential astrobiological importance of these processes and their involvements in the complex methane cycle on Titan will be presented.

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