Moons · Moon of Saturn

Titan

1.4 billion km from the Sun · Light crosses it in 0.017 seconds

Across

5,149 km

Vs Earth

0.4× Earth

Mass

2.25% of Earth

Open Titan in Cosmic Scale

About

Titan is the only moon with a thick atmosphere, and the only world besides Earth with liquid on its surface — though its rivers, lakes and rain are methane and ethane, not water. Under a golden haze it has dunes, shorelines and weather.

The only moon with a thick atmosphere, and lakes of liquid methane.

At a glance

Orbits	Saturn, every 16 days
Air pressure	1.5× Earth's at sea level
Surface	−179 °C
Landing	Huygens probe, 2005

Did you know

1. Kraken Mare, its largest sea, is bigger than the Caspian Sea and at least 300 m deep.
2. The air is 95% nitrogen, like Earth's, but so cold that methane plays the role water does here.
3. NASA's Dragonfly, a nuclear-powered rotorcraft, is due to launch in 2028 and fly from site to site.

Real photos

• The first colour view of Titan's surface, from the Huygens probe after landing in 2005 — ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona · source
• Titan passing in front of Saturn and its rings, true colour, Cassini — NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute · source