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Nature Article Published: The Identification of Liquid Ethane in Titan’s Ontario Lacus - 09.02.2008

An article recently published in Nature Journal features three scientists that are members of the TSSM JSDT including: Jason Soderblom, Ralf Jaumann, and Christophe Sotin. Article Summary: Forty flybys of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft have yet to reveal global oceans on Titan as was once thought by scientists. However, features that are similar to Earth-like lakes and seas have been found as well as evidence for a hydrological cycle that potentially uses methane instead of water to produce fluvial channels. Data obtained by the Cassini Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) strongly points to Titan’s Ontario Lacus being filled with liquid ethane. The ethane is likely in solution with methane, nitrogen, and other low mass molecules.
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