15 APR. 2003
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Titan is the largest moon of Saturn, the second largest in the Solar System (after Ganymede of Jupiter). It was discovered by Christiaan Huygens in 1655.
Titan's rotation period of about 16 days is synchronous to Saturn (meaning the same side always faces Saturn). It is the only moon in the Solar System known to have clouds and a thick, planet-like atmosphere.
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Distance from Saturn | 1 221 870 km |
Distance from Sun | 1 427 000 000 km (9.54 AU) |
Diameter (atmosphere) | 5550 km |
Diameter (surface) | 5150 km |
Mass | 1/45 that of Earth |
Average density | 1.881 times liquid water |
Surface temperature | 94K (-180 degrees C) |
Atmospheric pressure at surface | 1500 mbar (1.5 times Earth's) |
Atmospheric composition | Nitrogen, methane, traces of ammonia, argon, ethane |
Orbital period (Titanic day) | 15.95 Earth days |
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Huygens 3D animation of Titan's surface
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