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| | | | | | | Titan's pebbles 'seen' by Huygens radio
25 July 2006
| An artist's interpretation of the area surrounding the Huygens landing site based on images and data returned on 14 January 2005.
Credits: ESA | |  |  | |
| | | | | This technical sketch illustrates the radio signals emitted by the Huygens probe from Titan's surface after touch down on 14 January 2005. The probe survived the impact and continued to transmit to the Cassini mothership, orbiting above. Part of that radio signal ‘leaked’ downwards and hit the surface of Titan before being reflected back up to Cassini. On its way up, it interfered with the direct beam. Thanks to this 'multipath' phenomena related to the Huygens radio signal, it has been possible to deduce that the surface swathe must be relatively flat and covered mostly in stones of around 5-10 centimetres in diameter.
Credits: M. Pérez-Ayúcar/ESA | | | | |
| | | | | This image was returned on 14 January 2005, by ESA's Huygens probe during its successful descent to land on Titan. This is the colour view, following processing to add reflection spectra data, gives a better indication of the actual colour of the surface. Initially thought to be rocks or ice blocks, they are more pebble-sized. The two rock-like objects just below the middle of the image are about 15 centimetres (left) and 4 centimetres (centre) across respectively, at a distance of about 85 centimetres from Huygens. The surface is darker than originally expected, consisting of a mixture of water and hydrocarbon ice. There is also evidence of erosion at the base of these objects, indicating possible fluvial activity.
Credits: ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona | | | | |
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| | At Saturn and Titan More about... More on Cassini-Huygens spacecraftRelated articles Landing on Titan – the new moviesMovie of Titan's surface in the infraredA simulated view from HuygensHuygens 3D animation of Titan's surfaceNew findings from Titan and MarsCassini-Huygens team receives space awardLife on Titan?Christiaan Huygens: Discoverer of TitanJean-Dominique Cassini: Astrology to astronomyRelated links DISR web siteCassini-Huygens at JPLCassini-Huygens at NASAItalian Space Agency (ASI)
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