Keck II Telescope Finds No Oceans on Titan
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Scientists using the Keck II telescope in Hawaii say the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan appears dry and not awash in oceans of liquid hydrocarbons as is commonly believed.
The scientists reported in Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature that they failed to see any reflections of sunlight that would indicate a body of liquid on the moon during several viewings in 2003 and 2004. The observations were focused on Titan’s southern hemisphere, said lead researcher Robert West of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge. It’s possible the northern region may still contain pools of liquid organic material, West said.
