A darkness has been spreading on Titan and is now figured out. The moon in question is Saturn’s largest natural orbiting satellite. It is the only discovered place in the solar system that contains liquid on its surface. Titan houses large quantities of methane and ethane form its seas, much like water forms the oceans on Earth. The equator of the moon is the site that holds a mystery. This area contains sites where these liquids have evaporated, leaving room for dark rings on Titan’s surface.
No clear, close-up view can be had at the moment, so it is not 100 percent clear what these dark spots are. It is speculated by scientists that these are rings of solid matter left behind by the evaporation of water, much like in a bathtub.
An experiment has been conducted on Earth by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at NASA, to replicate the Titan goings on.
Mysterious Dark Rings on Titan Explained Via An Experiment Conducted By NASA
Methane, ethane and other such elements were put into a chamber. The temperature was lowered to mimic Titan, and the atmosphere was adjusted as well. The experiment had positive results that support the current theory relating to Titan. With similar rings formations happening in the replicated environment. The solids that resulted from the evaporation took the form of benzyne crystals. Benzyne is familiar enough on Earth, but the properties of the experimental chamber supported the formation of crystals.
Replicating the conditions on Titan resulted in the formation of more solid objects. Two more crystal types appeared. These are hydrocarbons, namely acetylene and butane – elements that are believed to be prominent on Titan, based on what is known about the moon.
Scientists are saying that the experiment shows that crystal rings can form under conditions similar to Titan. But they are not 100 percent sure the same is happening on the moon. Morgan Cable, a JPL researcher, stating that the hazy atmosphere on Titan is making it very difficult to confirm their findings.
