Cassini Reveals Titan's Secret: It's Not an Ocean Inside, but Ice Slush.

According to ТСН: Scientists analyzed data from NASA's Cassini mission and found that the internal structure of Saturn's moon Titan significantly differs from previously proposed theories. Instead of a large underground ocean, there is likely a complex system of ice and melted water.

“Ice Slush” Instead of a Sea

In 2008, the Cassini spacecraft transmitted data suggesting the possible existence of an ocean beneath Titan's surface. However, new research shows that under the crust, there are “tunnels of ice slush and pockets of melted water.”

“Instead of an open ocean, like on Earth, we are probably looking at something more akin to Arctic sea ice or aquifers,” explained study co-author Baptiste Journaux from the University of Washington.

Gravitational Test

The key to this discovery was Saturn’s gravity. While orbiting this giant planet, Titan experiences stretching and squashing due to tidal forces.

Researchers found that the moon's shape begins to change only 15 hours after the maximum gravitational influence of Saturn. This delay indicates significant energy dissipation within Titan, which is characteristic of viscous, “slush-like” materials, rather than liquid water.

Comfortable +20°C for Life

While the absence of an ocean may seem disheartening for the search for life, scientists remain optimistic.

In this “ice slush,” isolated pockets of fresh water may exist, where temperatures can reach life-comfortable 20 degrees Celsius (68°F). Moreover, in these small reservoirs, the concentration of nutrients can be significantly higher than in a large diluted ocean.

The next NASA mission to verify these theories will be Dragonfly. This aerial vehicle is set to launch in 2028 and arrive at Titan in 2034, becoming the second drone to fly in the atmosphere of another celestial body after Mars's Ingenuity.

We recall, scientists recently observed a rainbow beyond Earth. This unique phenomenon was recorded in Saturn's rings, where the rainbow-like bands resemble a rainbow but have a completely different nature.

The discovery about Titan's complex structure may change our understanding of the possibilities for life on other planets. NASA's Dragonfly-equipped mission will be an important step in this process, as new data may provide more information on what conditions might support life in other parts of our solar system.