The W. M.Keck Observatory is teaming up with researchers to study the way clouds move around the largest moon in the solar system. The early results of this research have not yet been peer reviewed.

Researchers were able to see how the clouds changed by combining space and ground observations. Imke de Pater said there were clouds at the same positions, looking like they might have changed in shape.

Near-infrared Images of Saturn’s moon Titan, as seen by JWST on November 4, 2022 (left), followed by Keck Observatory’s NIRC2 instrument paired with adaptive optics on November 6, 2022 (middle) and November 7, 2022 (right).
Near-infrared Images of Saturn’s moon Titan, as seen by JWST on November 4, 2022 (left), followed by Keck Observatory’s NIRC2 instrument paired with adaptive optics on November 6, 2022 (middle) and November 7, 2022 (right). NASA/STScI/W. M. Keck Observatory/Judy Schmidt

There were large clouds in the northern hemisphere of the moon, which the researchers wanted to learn about. Computational models have predicted that clouds would form in the mid-northern hemisphere when the surface is warm by the sun. There is a sea of liquid methane on the moon.

Astronomers are interested in Titan because it has lakes, rivers, and oceans on its surface. Liquid methane is what these features are made of. There is interest in sending a submarine probe to Titan due to the amount of liquid it has.

There is a plan to send a helicopter to explore the moon in the 20th century. The way for this mission is prepared by the recent observations from the two men.

"This is some of the most exciting data we have seen of Titan since the end of the Cassini-Huygens mission, and some of the best we will get before NASA's Dragonfly arrives in 2032," said Zibi Turtle. The analysis should help us learn a lot about the weather.

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