Friday, July 13, 2012

Vortex On Titan

The Cassini spacecraft has photographed a huge vortex over the southern polar region of Saturn's huge moon, Titan.  Scientists theorize the vortex is a product of Titan's atmosphere transitioning into winter in its southern hemisphere.

Several worlds-- including Saturn and Earth-- display such atmospheric vortices on occasion.  That Titan's complex, methane-dominated atmosphere has them, as well, suggests a variety of atmospheric systems operate on the same principles of physics.

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