Titan : exploring an earthlike world / Athena Coustenis, Fredric W. Taylor ; with illustrations by D.J. Taylor.

Previous edition: 1999.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 358-390) and index.

Titan: Exploring an Earthlike World presents the most comprehensive description in book form of what is currently known about Titan, the largest satellite of the planet Saturn and arguably the most intriguing and mysterious world in the Solar System. Because of its resemblance to our own planet, Titan is often described as a "frozen primitive Earth" and is therefore of wide interest to scientists and educated laypersons from a wide range of backgrounds. The book aims to cater to all of these by using nontechnical language wherever possible, while maintaining a high standard of scientific rigor. The book is a fully revised and extensively updated edition of Titan: The Earthlike Moon, which was published in 1999, before the Cassini and Huygens missions arrived to orbit Saturn and land on Titan. As investigators on these missions, the authors use the latest results to present the most recent revelations and latest surprises about an exciting new world.

1. Introduction. 1.1. Early history. 1.2. Titan in mythology. 1.3. Space exploration of the solar system. 1.4. The 20th century, before Voyager -- 2. The Voyager missions to Titan. 2.1. Space missions to the Saturnian system. 2.2. Voyager observations of Titan. 2.3. Atmospheric bulk composition. 2.4. Vertical temperature structure. 2.5. Energy balance and the temperature profile in the thermosphere. 2.6. Atmospheric composition. 2.7. Photochemistry. 2.8. Cloud and haze properties. 2.9. Speculations on the surface and landscape of Titan from Voyager. 2.10. The aftermath of Voyager -- 3. Observations of Titan from the Earth. 3.1. Introduction. 3.2. Space observatories. 3.3. Ground-based observatories. 3.4. Earth-based studies of Titan. 3.5. Ground-based observations and Cassini-Huygens -- 4. Cassini-Huygens: orbiting Saturn and landing on Titan. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. The spacecraft and its systems. 4.3. Scientific objectives. 4.4. The long history of the Cassini-Huygens mission. 4.5. Departure for the Saturnian system. 4.6. Journey to Saturn and orbit insertion. 4.7. Huygens descends onto Titan. 4.8. Experiments and payloads. 4.9. Touring the Saturnian system. 4.10. Being involved: scientists and instrument providers. 4.11. Reaping the benefits -- 5. Titan's atmosphere and climate. 5.1. The climate on Titan. 5.2. Radiation in Titan's atmosphere. 5.3. Remote atmospheric temperature sounding. 5.4. Titan's ionosphere and its interaction with the magnetosphere of Saturn. 5.5. Climate change on Titan -- 6. Chemistry and composition. 6.1. Titan's chemical composition. 6.2. The bulk composition of the atmosphere. 6.3. Ionospheric chemistry. 6.4. Trace constituents in the neutral atmosphere. 6.5. Photochemistry -- 7. Clouds and hazes. 7.1. Introduction and overview. 7.2. Terrestrial clouds and precipitation. 7.3. Visible aspects of Titan's haze. 7.4. Size and vertical distribution of the haze particles. 7.5. Tropospheric condensate clouds. 7.6. Thermal and dynamical interactions with the haze. 7.7. Observational evidence on the aerosol composition. 7.8. Laboratory simulations of haze materials. 7.9. Microphysical models of Titan's haze. 7.10. Discussion and conclusion -- 8. Atmospheric dynamics and meteorology. 8.1. Introduction. 8.2. Dynamics of planetary atmospheres. 8.3. Titan's general circulation. 8.4. Zonal motions. 8.5. The meridional circulation. 8.6. Vertical motions. 8.7. Waves, tides and turbulence. 8.8. The weather near the surface. 8.9. Does lightning occur on Titan? -- 9. The surface and interior of Titan. 9.1. Introduction. 9.2. Remote sensing of the surface. 9.3. Huygens takes a plunge. 9.4. Naming distant new places. 9.5. Evidence for geological activity. 9.6. The nature and composition of the surface. 9.7. The interior of Titan -- 10. Titan's origin and evolution in the solar system. 10.1. Introduction. 10.2. Relations among solar system bodies. 10.3. Titan's origin and evolution. 10.4. Titan and life. 10.5. Open questions -- 11. Beyond Cassini/Huygens: the future exploration of Titan. 11.1. Returning to Titan. 11.2. Titan as a target of astrobiological interest. 11.3. Science drivers and measurements needed. 11.4. Advanced Titan mission concepts. 11.5. Technology requirements. 11.6. Mission architecture and design. 11.7. Getting to Titan: launch and propulsion. 11.8. The voyage of the Titania. 11.9. Explorers on Titan.

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