Why is Titan’s atmosphere so thick compared with most moons?
Quick Answer
Titan is cold enough to retain gases, and it may have been supplied with nitrogen and methane over time. Its gravity is strong enough, for its size, to hold a dense atmosphere.
The Full Story
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is unusual because it has a thick atmosphere thicker than Earth’s at the surface. Its cold environment reduces the speed of gas molecules, making it easier for the moon to retain them. Nitrogen is the dominant gas, with methane present in smaller amounts and continually replenished by geological or chemical processes. This atmosphere drives methane clouds, rain, and lakes of liquid hydrocarbons on the surface.
Key Facts
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