Titan
Step 1. Questions
What do you think of when you hear the word “Titan?” It is usually associated with things that are big or strong. In Greek mythology the Titans were a family of giants. Using this information, what can you infer about Titan, one of Saturn’s moons? You are correct if you said it is enormous in size! In fact, it is the second largest satellite in the solar system. It is even bigger than two of the planets.
In many ways Titan is like a planet. It is the only moon in our solar system that has its own atmosphere. Scientists are very interested in it because they believe its atmosphere is very similar to that of ancient Earth. They will soon be learning a great deal about Titan as the Cassini-Huygen spacecraft transmits images and data from both this gigantic moon and its parent planet. You can begin your exploration of Titan by using the following questions to guide your research:
- What are the characteristics of Titan?
- How does Titan compare with other satellites in our solar system?
- Why are scientists so interested in studying Titan?
- What is the purpose of the Cassini-Huygen mission? What is its timeline?
By using the following Web sites you can answer these questions, as well as some of your own. When your research is complete, use the steps that follow to develop a written report presenting your findings.
Step 2. Research
Research answers for the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!
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